Bill Text: HI HB1906 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 1906

HI State Legislature page for HB1906

Bill Title: Relating To Making An Appropriation For The Department Of Education To Promote Student Mental Health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-22 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. [HB1906 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1906-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1906
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROMOTE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes that providing mental health and well-being support plays a pivotal role in addressing the diverse and complex psychological needs of students, offering crucial support that extends beyond traditional academic needs. Within the evolving landscape of education, mental health support has become an integral part of a holistic system nurturing the development of the State's keiki. Access to mental health and well-being support enables early identification and intervention for students experiencing mental health issues, which creates a positive ripple effect on the overall school environment and student outcomes. Furthermore, investing in these resources is an investment in the future of the State, ensuring that students excel academically and thrive emotionally and socially.

Presently, the department of education uses two platforms to address mental health. The first is the panorama education platform, which is used to survey students. The second platform is the trust circle mobile platform, which provides broader mental health and well-being support access, reduces barriers to seeking support, and addresses the potential consequences of overlooking those who may require assistance but remain outside existing referral channels.

The legislature finds that the department of education does not have a platform to gather social-emotional surveys or a centralized database that captures student data around academics, attendance, behavior, mental health, and social-emotional learning needs.

The legislature also finds that a single-entry point well‑being management system that promotes common documentation and progress monitoring of all students will help with early identification of problems and the creation of interventions that mitigate those problems.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of education to enhance and sustain the department's ability to address mental health, including providing the department with the ability to gather social‑emotional surveys and establish a centralized database that captures student academic, attendance, behavior, mental health, and social-emotional learning needs.

SECTION 2. In accordance with section 9 of article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriation contained in this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $ , or per cent. The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that the appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest and to meet the needs provided for by this Act.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the department of education to maintain and enhance of its panorama platform and trust circle mobile platform or to create one or more new platforms that provide increased support for mental health, including social‑emotional health.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

DOE; Mental Health and Well-Being Support; Mobile Applications; Expenditure Ceiling; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to enhance its Panorama platform and Trust Circle mobile application or create a new platform. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.