STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3044

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2823

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish and fund a School Psychologist National Certification Incentive Program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, HE‘E Coalition, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the incentive program established and funded by this measure will help the State recruit and retain highly qualified school psychologists to serve in Hawaii's public schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the program will provide financial incentives for school psychologists who obtain the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential;

(2) Authorizing the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules pursuant to Chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement and administer the program; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2823, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair