|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2010 |
|
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
"§302A- Mental
health professionals; minimum required per school. (a) Beginning with the 2026-2027
school year, each public school in the State, from kindergarten through
grade twelve, shall employ, or retain under contract, at
least one mental health professional for every two hundred fifty students enrolled
in the public school; provided that, if a public school has fewer than two
hundred fifty students enrolled, the public school shall employ, or retain under
contract, at least one mental health professional.
(b)
Other state agencies, as appropriate, shall cooperate with the
department to implement this section.
(c)
As used in this section, "mental health professional" means:
(1) A
licensed mental health counselor, as defined in section 453D-1;
(2) A
psychologist licensed to practice psychology under chapter 465;
(3) A
person employed as a school psychologist pursuant to section 465-3(a)(3);
(4) A
social worker, as defined in section 467E-1; or
(5) A
social worker exempt from licensure pursuant to section 467E-6(2)."
SECTION 2. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302D- Mental
health professionals; minimum required per school. (a) Beginning with the 2026-2027
school year, each public charter school in the State, from kindergarten
through grade twelve, shall employ, or retain under contract, at least one
mental health professional for every two hundred fifty students enrolled in the
public charter school; provided that, if a public charter school has fewer than
two hundred fifty students enrolled, the public charter school shall employ, or
retain under contract, at least one mental health professional. (b) Other
state agencies, as appropriate, shall cooperate with the department to
implement this section.
(c)
As used in this section, "mental health professional" means:
(1) A
licensed mental health counselor, as defined in section 453D-1;
(2) A
psychologist licensed to practice psychology under chapter 465;
(3) A
person employed as a school psychologist pursuant to section 465-3(a)(3);
(4) A
social worker, as defined in section 467E-1; or
(5) A
social worker exempt from licensure pursuant to section 467E-6(2)."
SECTION 3. The department shall submit a progress report
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025, detailing the progress made toward meeting the benchmark requiring each public school and public charter school in the State, from kindergarten through grade twelve, to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional for every two hundred fifty students enrolled, as established by sections 1 and 2 of this Act.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish full-time equivalent ( .0 FTE) mental health professional positions within the department of education or otherwise satisfy the requirements established by sections 1 and 2 of this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2024.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
DOE; Public Schools; Public Charter Schools; K-12; Mental Health Professionals; School Counselors; Psychologists; School Psychologists; Social Workers; Report to Legislature; Appropriation
Description:
Beginning
with the 2026-2027 school year, requires each public school and public charter
school in the State to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental
health professional for every two hundred fifty students enrolled, subject to
certain conditions. Requires the
Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025. Appropriates funds for the Department of
Education to contract for mental health professionals and to establish an
unspecified number of full-time equivalent mental health professional positions
within the Department of Education.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.