THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2224
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Mental health professionals; minimum required per school. (a) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, each department 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 department school; provided that, if a department school has fewer than two hundred fifty students enrolled, that department school shall employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional.

(b) Other state agencies shall cooperate with the department as appropriate 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 2027-2028 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, that public charter school shall employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional.

(b) Other state agencies shall cooperate with the department as appropriate 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 of education shall submit a progress report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027, detailing the progress made toward meeting the benchmark requiring each department school and public charter school in the State, from kindergarten through grade twelve, to employ, or retain under contract, the number of mental health professionals required 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 2026-2027 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, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DOE; Public Schools; Public Charter Schools; K-12; Mental Health Professionals; School Counselors; Psychologists; School Psychologists; Social Workers; Report to Legislature; Appropriation; General Fund Expenditure Ceiling Exceeded

Description:

Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, requires each public school in the State, including charter schools, to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates moneys 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.