STAND. COM. REP. NO. 39-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 1648

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. 1648 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the recommended criteria for the licensure of school psychologists in the State;

(2) Amend the composition of the Board of Psychology to include two school psychologists; and

(3) Require all persons practicing under the title of "school psychologist" in the State to obtain a school psychologist license with the Board of Psychology by July 1, 2026.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network; National Association of School Psychologists; Hawaii Government Employee Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hui for Excellence in Education Coalition; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education; Department of the Attorney General; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Board of Psychology; and Hawaiʻi Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state without a pathway to licensure for school psychologists. Your Committee recognizes that school psychologists are essential in helping students succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally by providing direct educational and mental health services for children and youth. As there is no statutorily established criteria for licensure for school psychologists, the State cannot ensure that functioning school psychologists are properly qualified and can deliver appropriate services.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised by several state departments, professional groups, and specialist groups on how to best establish a pathway for licensure for school psychologists and recognizes that further discussion is warranted.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its contents and inserting language that:

(1) Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation to the Legislature on an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2025;

(2) Updates the purpose section to reflect the new contents;

(3) Changes the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(4) Makes 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. 1648, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1648, 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