STAND. COM. REP. NO. 982-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1889

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the 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 in 2027.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists; and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology and Hawaiʻi Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that school psychologists are uniquely qualified professionals who provide a comprehensive range of learning, mental, and behavioral health services in schools. Importantly, school psychologists are not interchangeable with other psychologists, as they possess a specific set of knowledge and skills that are tailored to educational settings. It is for this reason that school psychology is a recognized specialty of psychology by the American Psychological Association (APA); the APA's Model Licensure Act maintains the importance of a distinct license/certification for school psychologists separate and apart from other psychology professionals.

Your Committee further finds that Hawaii is the only state in the United States that has not established credentialing requirements for the practice of school psychology and use of the title "School Psychologist". This measure will allow the Legislature to gather further information to determine the most appropriate form of regulation for persons who practice school psychology.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1889, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair