STAND. COM. REP. NO. 318

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 224

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 224 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

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

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association of School Psychologists and five individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Vocational Licensing Division, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Regulated Industries Compliance Office, and Board of Psychology.

     Your Committee finds that school psychologists can provide direct educational and mental health services for children and youth, as well as working with parents, educators, and other professionals to create supportive learning and social environments for all children.  Your Committee further finds that Hawaii is the only state in which school psychologists are not required to be licensed in order to practice in an educational setting.  Your Committee additionally finds that this lack of a licensure requirement has made it possible for individuals to practice as school psychologists who are not fully qualified to practice in an educational setting.  This measure will ensure that persons who practice school psychology are qualified to provide the services that Hawaii's students need.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Adding language clarifying that "practice of school psychology" does not include private practice; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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 S.B. No. 224, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 224, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair