STAND. COM. REP. NO. 848

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 624

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 624, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps for or propose legislation on an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2026.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; Hawaiʻi Association of School Psychologists; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology; Hawaiʻi Psychological Association; and Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 624, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair