STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1231-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2595

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 2595, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is increase the availability of mental health and case management services by:

(1) Establishing the Mental Health Counselors Licensing Program (Program), that:

(a) Establishes qualifications and procedures for licensure of mental health counselors by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA);

(b) Authorizes DCCA to assess fees to support the Program;

(c) Exempts certain individuals from licensing; and

(d) Has a repeal date of December 31, 2008, to ensure continued review of the Program by the Legislature;

and

(2) Appropriating funds to implement the Program.

The Clinical Social Work Society of Hawaii, University of Phoenix, Hale Opio Kauai, Inc., Hawaii Vocational Services, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and several concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. Kaiser Permanente, Child & Family Service, Alliance for Professional Counselor Licensure, Hawaii Counseling Association, and several concerned individuals supported this measure with amendments. The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Removing the dollar amount of the appropriation to fund the Program to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2595, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2595, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair