STAND. COM. REP. NO. 38-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1649

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1649 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 Hawaii Government Employee Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; National Association of School Psychologists; Hui for Excellence in Education Coalition; Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists; Hawaii Young Republicans; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

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 school psychologists in the State have 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 changing the effective date to July 1, 3000.

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. 1649, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1649, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair