Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SR144: Requesting the Hawaii State Department of Education to Ensure Good Faith Implementation of Its Doctoral Educational Psychology Stipend Agreements and to Establish and Fund Appropriate Educational Psychologist Positions Consistent with Contractual Commitments.
Status: In committee, March 19, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
THE SENATE S.R. NO. m THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 STATE OF HAWAII MAR 1 6 2026 SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE GOOD FAITH IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS DOCTORAL EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY STIPEND AGREEMENTS AND TO ESTABLISH AND FUND APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST POSITIONS CONSISTENT WITH CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS. WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Department of Education (hereinafter "department") entered into a Contract and Promissory Note in partnership with Chaminade University to address the shortage of qualified licensed mental health providers in Hawai'i's public schools; and WHEREAS, the Contract expressly states that stipends were awarded to individuals pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Educational Psychology whose professional class specifications focus on the delivery of essential interventions to students with intensive mental health needs; and WHEREAS, under the terms of the Contract, stipend recipients agreed to complete sixty (60) credits toward a Doctorate in Education in Educational Psychology, obtain licensure through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as a Mental Health Counselor or related license, and commit to three (3) years of full-time employment with the Department as an Educational Psychologist or other agreed upon capacity as the Department determines; and WHEREAS, the Contract further provides that if the Department is unable to place a qualified recipient in a fulltime Educational Psychologist or other agreed upon capacity, the recipient shall not …
Sponsors
- Brenton Awa (R, 23) · primary sponsor
- Angus McKelvey (D, 6)
Latest actions
- : Referred to EDU/HHS.
- : Offered.
Subjects: DCCA, DOE, Reports
Common questions
- What is SR144?
- SR144 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Requesting the Hawaii State Department of Education to Ensure Good Faith Implementation of Its Doctoral Educational Psychology Stipend Agreements and to Establish and Fund Appropriate Educational Psychologist Positions Consistent with Contractual Commitments.
- What is the status of SR144?
- In committee as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: Referred to EDU/HHS. (March 19, 2026).
- Who sponsored SR144?
- Brenton Awa (R, 23), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SR144?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SR&billnumber=144&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.