Hawaii-2018-SB496-Introduced

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that all students need to learn social and emotional skills that encourage peaceful resolution of disputes and enable them to fully participate in the educational process free from bullying and cyberbullying. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and to meet high academic standards. Bullying and cyberbullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, inhibit a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate students in a safe environment. It is imperative that all public schools and public charter schools and youth-serving agencies in the State receive training to encourage positive behavior and prevent bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Training school personnel and other persons serving students to support social and emotional learning will enable school administrators, faculty, staff, parents, guardians, and volunteers to be an example for students by demonstrating appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate bullying and harassment.

The purpose of this Act is to:

(1) Require the department of education to provide training on social and emotional learning to all youth-serving educators, health care professionals and counselors, and agencies and programs, as well as parents of students enrolled in a public school or public charter school using evidence-based and evidence-informed curricula and materials that are scientifically accurate, age appropriate, and culturally relevant; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the department of education to conduct training on social and emotional learning to all youth-serving educators, health care professionals and counselors, and agencies and programs to encourage positive social behaviors and protect youth in the State from all forms of bullying and cyberbullying.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Social and emotional learning; training. (a) The department shall provide training on social and emotional learning to any of the following persons, as determined by the department:

(1) Teachers of school age children;

(2) Health care professionals or counselors serving school age children;

(3) Parents of school age children; and

(4) Any agencies or programs, including agencies or programs receiving grants or purchases of service, pursuant to chapters 42F or 103F, respectively, that provide services to school age children;

provided that this section shall apply to youth-serving educators, health care professionals and counselors, and agencies and programs, as well as parents of students enrolled in public schools subject to this chapter or public charter schools subject to chapter 302D.

(b) Any funds received by the department for training on social and emotional learning shall be used for new or existing training programs, including those that are designed to prevent bullying and harassment, and shall not supplant any other funds previously allocated to these programs.

(c) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 to carry out the purposes of this section, including but not limited to:

(1) Identifying the types of programs and opportunities available for training on social and emotional learning;

(2) Establishing a program on training on social and emotional learning that is evidence-based and evidence-informed curricula and materials that are scientifically accurate, age appropriate, and culturally relevant; and

(3) Determining the persons who shall receive training on social and emotional learning pursuant to this section."

SECTION 3. Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302D- Social and emotional learning; training. All charter schools shall participate in the department's training on social and emotional learning pursuant to section 302A- ."

SECTION 4. 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 2017-2018 to provide training on social and emotional learning to all youth-serving educators, health care professionals and counselors, and agencies and programs, as well as parents of students enrolled in public schools or public charter schools, to promote positive social behaviors and protect youth in the State from all forms of bullying and cyberbullying.

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

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2017.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	496
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2017
STATE OF HAWAII