S.B. 64 Summary

• Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, each public school and public charter school in Hawaii (K-12) must employ or retain under contract at least one mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled, with smaller schools required to have at least one mental health professional regardless of enrollment.

• Qualified mental health professionals include licensed mental health counselors, licensed psychologists, school psychologists, licensed social workers, and exempt social workers as defined in Hawaii Revised Statutes.

• Department of Education must submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2026 regular session detailing progress toward meeting the mental health professional staffing requirements.

• Appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to establish mental health professional positions in the Department of Education and contract for services to meet statutory requirements.

• Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded; takes effect July 1, 2025.