STAND. COM. REP. NO. 23

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 54

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 54 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Nationally Certified School Psychologist Incentive Program within the Department of Education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii State Teachers Association; National Association of School Psychologists; Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists; Hui for Excellence in Education Coalition; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!; and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Republic of Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that school psychologists are integral to meeting students' mental, emotional, and social needs and helping students succeed in the school environment. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of one school psychologist to every five hundred students; however, many schools in Hawaii more often have a ratio of one school psychologist to more than fifteen hundred students.

Your Committee further finds that the establishment of a Nationally Certified School Psychologist Incentive Program will help the State address the critical shortage of accredited school psychologists in public schools and provide students with access to professionals who engage in high quality, evidence-based practices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 54, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 54, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair