STAND. COM. REP. NO.1561

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 81

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 81 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF HYPNOTHERAPISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to perform a sunrise review of the regulation of hypnotherapists.

Specifically, this Concurrent Resolution requests a review of the regulation as set forth in Senate Bill No. 2497 (2002), as it may be subsequently amended. Particular attention is requested in the areas of the costs and benefits of the activities of hypnotherapists for the consumer, and a summary of existing laws in the other states that do and do not license hypnotherapists.

Section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires the Legislature to refer to the Auditor by Concurrent Resolution a request for analysis of any new regulatory measure that would subject unregulated professions to regulatory controls. The Legislature adopted S.C.R. No. 16 during the Regular Session of 2002, requesting such a review of the regulation of hyopnotherapists under Senate Bill No. 2497. The Auditor neither performed the review nor submitted a report to the Legislature as requested. Your Committee is passing out this Concurrent Resolution in the express hope that the Auditor will give this matter the attention it requires.

Your Committee finds that hypnotherapy can be a very powerful therapeutic for a multitude of problems, such as smoking cessation, motivation, performance enhancement, weight control, and phobias. However, it is not without risks. Your Committee also finds that a lack of professional training may cause bad experiences for patients, and thus regulation may be in the best interest of state residents. The Auditor's report is a necessary step in deciding whether to regulate.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 81 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair