HB4397Introduced in the House
SCH CD-SCH PSYCHOLOGIST-DEGREE
Introduced by Michael Crawford, District 31
What does this bill do?
Plain-English breakdown
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Official description
Reinserts the contents of the bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1, with the following changes. Provides that the changes to the qualification requirements for a school psychologist apply beginning on July 1, 2027 (rather than the changes applying to a psychologist licensed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act). Provides that to qualify as a school psychologist, the psychologist must (i) have graduated from an institution of higher learning that maintains equipment, courses of study, and standards of scholarship approved by the State Board of Education with (I) a qualifying master's degree, as determined by the State Board, with the completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours, (II) a qualifying specialist degree, as determined by the State Board, (III) an equivalent degree, as determined by the State Board, with the completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours, or (IV) a higher qualifying degree, as determined by the State Board (rather than with a specialist degree, an equivalent degree with the completion of a minimum of 60 graduate semester hours, or a higher degree in school psychology); (ii) have had supervised internship experience in the delivery of school psychological services of a character approved by the State Superintendent of Education on a full-time basis for at least one school year or, if applicable, on at least a half-time basis over 2 consecutive school years (rather than having had at least 1,200 clock hours of supervised experience in the delivery of school psychological services of a character approved by the State Superintendent, at least 600 hours of which were in a school setting); and (iii) have such additional qualifications as may be required by the State Board.
Where it stands
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0605
July 24, 2026
How did lawmakers vote?
House votes
3 recorded votes · each counted separately
Senate votes
2 recorded votes · each counted separately
SenateStage: Senate Third Reading · May 19, 2026
46
Yes
12
No
1
Absent or Not Voting
59 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.
See how each senator voted
| Senator | District | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Javier Cervantes | 1 | Yes |
| Omar Aquino | 2 | Yes |
| Mattie Hunter | 3 | Yes |
| Kimberly Lightford | 4 | Yes |
| Lakesia Collins | 5 | Yes |
| Sara Feigenholtz | 6 | Yes |
| Mike Simmons | 7 | Yes |
| Ram Villivalam | 8 | Yes |
| Laura Fine | 9 | Yes |
| Robert Martwick | 10 | Yes |
Bill history
Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Michael Crawford
First Reading
Referred to Rules Committee
Assigned to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael Crawford
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; by Voice Vote
Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 008-001-000
Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Maurice A. West, II
Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
Second Reading - Short Debate
Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Michael Crawford
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Elementary & Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing & Charter Schools; 009-000-000
House Floor Amendment No. 2 Adopted
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 094-009-000
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lisa Davis
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Yolonda Morris
Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Kimberly Du Buclet
Arrive in Senate
Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading
Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel
First Reading
Referred to Assignments
Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Karina Villa
Assigned to Education
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mark L. Walker
Do Pass Education; 013-001-000
Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 7, 2026
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Julie A. Morrison
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy
Second Reading
Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 18, 2026
Third Reading - Passed; 046-012-000
Passed Both Houses
Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz
Sent to the Governor
Governor Approved
Effective Date January 1, 2027
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0605
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