URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE COST AND BENEFITS OF HIRING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL AND OF DISTRIBUTING GUIDELINES ON TELEHEALTH SAFE SPACES.

SR42

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

42

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

urging the department of education, in consultation with
the department of health, to conduct a study on the cost and benefits of hiring
mental health professionals for every public school and of distributing
guidelines on telehealth safe spaces
.

����
WHEREAS, there
is an urgent and growing mental health crisis among the youth of the United
States; and

����
WHEREAS, according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of depressive symptoms
and suicidal thoughts among students have increased significantly in recent
years; and

����
WHEREAS, in
the State, the mental health crisis is made worse by a shortage of mental
health professionals; and

����
WHEREAS, despite
the use of telehealth services to make up for the lack of mental health
professionals, young patients utilizing telehealth have declined in recent
years, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and

����
WHEREAS, reasons
for the decline in the use of telehealth services may be attributed to the
absence of a safe and quiet space to conduct impactful virtual sessions,
especially during school hours; and

����
WHEREAS, public
schools play a vital role in addressing the issue of youth mental health due to
their supervision over students for most of the hours of the day, for most of
the weeks of the year; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education, in consultation with
the Department of Health, is urged to conduct a study on the cost and benefits
of hiring one mental health professional for every two hundred fifty students
that are enrolled in a public school and one mental health professional for
every public school with fewer than two hundred fifty students; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the study is requested to include an analysis of the costs and
benefits arising from the development of guidelines for the establishment and
operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school
property during normal school hours and from the distribution of the guidelines
to each public middle and high school in the State; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report of
its study, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation,
to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
Regular Session of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and
Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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DOE;
DOH; Safe Spaces for Students; Telehealth; Mental Health; Public Schools;
Mental Health Professionals; Middle Schools; High Schools; Study