STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1408-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2823

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Nationally Certified School Psychologist Incentive Program within the Department of Education.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Teachers Association; Hui for Excellence in Education; Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawai‘i Psychological Association; and eleven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that school psychologists are integral to meeting students' mental, emotional, and social needs and helping students succeed in the school environment. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends a ratio of one school psychologist to every five hundred students; however, many school psychologists in the State have a ratio of more than fifteen hundred students.

Your Committee further finds that the establishment of a Nationally Certified School Psychologist Incentive Program will help the State address the critical shortage of accredited school psychologists in public schools and provide students with access to professionals who engage in high quality, evidence-based practices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 2, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair