STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1371-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2281

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 2281, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish interim licensure requirements for school psychologists and require all school psychologists to obtain an interim license from the Board of Psychology by January 1, 2023;

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

(3) Require the Board of Psychology and the Department of Education to develop a permanent licensing scheme for school psychologists and submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Disability and Communication Access Board; Hui for Excellence in Education; Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawai‘i Psychological Association; Hawaii State Teachers Association; and eleven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Board of Psychology. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state without certification or licensure for school psychologists. Your Committee further finds that because the State has failed to properly license school psychologists, the State is unable to seek reimbursements from the federal Medicaid program for the use of school psychologists in an educational setting. Establishing a licensure program for school psychologists will ensure the employment of qualified school psychologists and allow schools using school psychologists to properly seek available federal Medicaid funds.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2281, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2281, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair