STAND. COM. REP. NO. 13

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 249

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 249 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the licensure requirements for school psychologists by:

(1) Establishing the licensure requirements for school psychologists; and

(2) Clarifying that all school psychologists practicing only within a school setting are exempt from the licensure requirements for psychologists under Chapter 465, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and a few individuals provided testimony in support of this measure. The Department of the Attorney General, Department of Education, Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board, Board of Psychology, and a few individuals provided comments on this measure.

Your Committee notes that the Hawai‘i Teacher Standards Board and Hawaii Association of School Psychologists plan to meet to jointly review this measure and the organizations anticipate submitting revised language as amendments. Your Committee requests that the Committee on Intrastate Commerce consider the amendments if the measure is scheduled for a hearing.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on this measure; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 249, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 249, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Intrastate Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Lower & Higher Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair