STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2185

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 958

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 958 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish licensure requirements for school psychologists to be administered by the Board of Psychology;

(2) Require all school psychologists to be licensed by July 1, 2025; and

(3) Increase the composition of the Board of Psychology to include two school psychologists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network; Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaii State Teachers Association; and ten individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of the Attorney General, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology, and Hawaiʻi Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that school psychologists provide effective services to help children and youth with their social and emotional learning needs and can work with parents, educators, and other professionals to create supportive learning and social environments for all children. Your Committee further finds that school psychologists are not presently subject to regulation or required to undergo any formal credentialing process by the State. This measure establishes the regulatory framework and licensure requirements for school psychologists in the State.

Your Committee notes that S.C.R. No. 64, S.D. 1 (2022), requested the Auditor to conduct a sunrise analysis of the regulation and licensure of school psychologists, as proposed by S.B. No. 1274 (2021), a measure that set forth a regulatory framework and licensing requirements for school psychologists similar to those described in this measure. In November, the Office of the Auditor issued Report No. 22-13, stating that it could not conduct the sunrise analysis based on several concerns, including the insufficient definition of the practice of school psychology subject to the regulation and the work or type of work individuals will need to obtain to satisfy the licensure requirements.

Your Committee further notes the concerns raised by testimony regarding the impact of this measure, that is to be implemented on July 1, 2025, on existing school psychologists.

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

(1) Establishes a working group to assess and make recommendations on the most appropriate regulatory framework and licensure requirements for school psychologists in the State; and

(2) Requires the working group to report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 958, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 958, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair