Senate Resolution 32 - Summary

• Urges the Department of Education to ensure each public school and charter school (K-12) employs or contracts at least one mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled.

• Schools with fewer than 250 students are urged to employ or retain at least one mental health professional.

• Defines "mental health professional" to include licensed mental health counselors, psychologists, school psychologists, social workers, and social workers exempt from licensure under Hawaii law.

• Requests the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2025 Regular Session convening, detailing progress toward meeting the staffing benchmarks.

• Acknowledges Hawaii's acute mental health crisis among children and youth, and cites national recommendations from the National Association of School Psychologists (1 per 500 students) and American School Counselor Association (1 per 250 students).