STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1158-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2823

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, 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; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists; and twenty individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that the establishment of a Nationally Certified School Psychologist Incentive Program will help the State address the critical shortage of accredited school psychologists and will support children and youth by providing them access to professionals who engage in high quality, evidence-based practices.

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. 2823, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair