Bill Text: HI HB1265 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To Psychology.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB1265 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1265-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1265 |
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THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to PSYCHOLOGY.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that school psychologists provide effective services to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally by providing direct educational and mental health services for children and youth, as well as working with parents, educators, and other professionals to create supportive learning and social environments for all children.
The legislature further finds that currently, Hawaii is the only state without certification or licensure for school psychologists. Without a standard form of regulation, the State cannot ensure that functioning school psychologists are properly qualified and delivering appropriate services. In addition, the State's failure to properly license school psychologists means that by law the State is unable to seek warranted reimbursements from the federal medicaid program for the use of school psychologists in an educational setting. Consequently, it is necessary to establish a licensure program to ensure the employment of qualified school psychologists and allow schools utilizing school psychologists to properly seek available federal medicaid funds.
The legislature additionally finds that the pursuant to section 465-3(a)(3), Hawaii Revised Statutes, school psychologists in the public sector are exempt from the licensure requirements for psychologists, while school psychologists in the private sector are subject to licensure. This inconsistency may cause confusion and unfairness within the profession. Because the State does not require licensure for school psychologists, it is important to specify the conditions under which a school psychologist is exempt from licensure under chapter 465, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to prevent potential harm to students, ensure the continued delivery of quality service to students and the community, and others and promote fairness and consistency for persons within the profession.
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Establish licensure of school psychologists consistent with the National Association of School Psychologists standards;
(2) Clarify that the exemptions from licensure as a psychologist under chapter 465, Hawaii Revised Statutes, apply to those persons employed as school psychologists by an educational institution and practicing only within a school setting;
(3) Prohibits private practice by school psychologists; and
(4) Rename the Hawaii teacher standards board the Hawaii teacher standards and school psychologists board, amend the composition of the board to include two school psychologists, and require the board to submit a report to the legislature.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart D to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- School
psychologists; license required. (a) No
person shall represent, announce, or advertise oneself, publicly or privately,
as a school psychologist or affix any other words, letters, abbreviations, or
insignia to the person's name indicating or implying that the person is engaged
in the practice of school psychology, without having first obtained a license
in the manner prescribed by the Hawaii teacher standards and school
psychologists board consistent with the national standards articulated by the
most current Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological
Services, as published by the National Association of School Psychologists, or
its successor organization, in a school setting.
(b)
Before any applicant shall be eligible for a license, the applicant
shall file an application in a form prescribed by the board and pay to the
board an application fee and all other applicable fees.
(c) A
person licensed as a school psychologist pursuant to this section shall
practice only within a school setting and shall not engage in private practice.
(d) The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter
91 necessary for the purposes of this section."
SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, part III, subpart D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read as follows:
"D. Hawaii Teacher Standards and School Psychologists Board"
SECTION 4. Section 302A-801, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:
"§302A-801 Hawaii teacher standards and school
psychologists board established. (a) There is established the Hawaii teacher standards
and school psychologists board, which shall be placed within the
department for administrative purposes only.
The board shall consist of [seventeen] nineteen members,
including not less than six licensed teachers regularly engaged in teaching at the
time of the appointment, three educational officers employed at the time of the
appointment, the chairperson of the board of education or the chairperson's
designee, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee, a representative
of independent schools, the dean of the University of Hawaii college of
education or the dean's designee, [and] the chairperson of the Native
Hawaiian Education Council or the chairperson's designee[;], two
school psychologists, and two members of the public; provided that one
teacher member shall be engaged in teaching at a Hawaii public charter school
at the time of appointment and the dean's designee shall be chosen from the
member institutions of the teacher education coordinating committee established
under section 304A-1202[, and two members of the public]. A non-voting teacher candidate from a Hawaii
educator preparation program at a public institution of higher education on a
rotating basis shall be appointed by the chairperson of the teacher education
coordinating committee to serve a one-year term."
SECTION 5. Section 465-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) This chapter shall not apply to:
(1) Any person teaching, lecturing, consulting, or engaging in research in psychology insofar as the activities are performed as part of or are dependent upon employment in a college or university; provided that the person shall not engage in the practice of psychology outside the responsibilities of the person's employment;
(2) Any person who performs any, or any combination of the professional services defined as the practice of psychology under the direction of a licensed psychologist in accordance with rules adopted by the board; provided that the person may use the term "psychological assistant", but shall not identify the person's self as a psychologist or imply that the person is licensed to practice psychology;
(3) Any person
employed by [a]:
(A) A
local, state, or federal government agency in a school psychologist or
psychological examiner position, or a position that does not involve diagnostic
or treatment services, but only at those times when that person is carrying out
the functions of such government employment; provided that for a person employed
as a school psychologist under this subparagraph, the person shall be an
employee of an educational institution and practicing only within a school
setting; or
(B) An
educational institution, including a private or sectarian educational
institution, in a school psychologist position and practicing only within a
school setting;
(4) Any person who is a student of psychology, a psychological intern, or a resident in psychology preparing for the profession of psychology under supervision in a training institution or facility and who is designated by a title as "psychology trainee", "psychology student", "psychology intern", or "psychology resident", that indicates the person's training status; provided that the person shall not identify the person's self as a psychologist or imply that the person is licensed to practice psychology;
(5) Any person who is a member of another profession licensed under the laws of this jurisdiction to render or advertise services, including psychotherapy, within the scope of practice as defined in the statutes or rules regulating the person's professional practice; provided that, notwithstanding section 465-1, the person does not represent the person's self to be a psychologist or does not represent that the person is licensed to practice psychology;
(6) Any person who is a member of a mental health profession not requiring licensure; provided that the person functions only within the person's professional capacities; and provided further that the person does not represent the person to be a psychologist, or the person's services as psychological;
(7) Any person who is a duly recognized member of the clergy; provided that the person functions only within the person's capacities as a member of the clergy; and provided further that the person does not represent the person to be a psychologist, or the person's services as psychological;
(8) Any psychologist employed by the United States Department of Defense, while engaged in the discharge of the psychologist's official duty and providing direct telehealth support or services, as defined in section 431:10A-116.3, to neighbor island beneficiaries within a Hawaii National Guard armory on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, or Maui; provided that the psychologist employed by the United States Department of Defense is credentialed by Tripler Army Medical Center; or
(9) Any supervisee of a licensed psychologist as defined in section 465D‑7."
SECTION 6. Sections 302A-101, 302A-501, 302A-602, 302A-602.5, 302A-702, 302D-26, 302D-39, 302L-7, 304A-701, 304A-1201, 304A-1202, 315-2, and 315-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by substituting the term "Hawaii teacher standards and school psychologists board" wherever the term "Hawaii teacher standards board" appears, as the context requires.
SECTION 7. The Hawaii teacher standards and psychologists board shall submit a report to the legislature regarding the licensure of school psychologists as established by section 2 of this Act no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.
SECTION 8. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023, and shall be repealed on July 1, 2026; provided that the title of chapter 302A, part III, subpart D, and sections 302A-101, 302A-501, 302A-602, 302A-602.5, 302A-702, 302A-801, 302D-26, 302D-39, 302L-7, 304A-701, 304A-1201, 304A-1202, 315-2, and 315-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which they read on the day before the effective date of this Act.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
School Psychologists; Licensure; Hawaii Teacher Standards and School Psychologists Board
Description:
Establishes licensure for school psychologists consistent with National Association of School Psychologists standards. Clarifies that the exemptions from licensure as a psychologist apply to those persons employed as school psychologists by an educational institution and practicing only within a school setting. Prohibits private practice by school psychologists. Renames the Hawaii teacher standards board the Hawaii teacher standards and school psychologists board; amends the composition of the board to include two school psychologists and requires the board to submit a report to the legislature. Sunsets 7/1/2026.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
