STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2612

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2159

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 2159 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure that licensed mental health counselors continue to provide mental health services by repealing section 26H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which repeals the mental health counselor regulatory program as of December 31, 2008.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of the Auditor, Kaiser Permanente, the Hawaii Rehabilitation Counseling Association, the Alliance for Professional Counselor Licensure, and twenty-eight private individuals.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee finds that state licensure for mental health counselors assures professionalism and protection of consumer health.  Mental health clinicians holding advanced degrees in their field bring valuable skills to the community.  Your Committee recognizes the large number of testimony submitted in support of this measure and believes that the title and practice of these clinicians should be protected and made permanent.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2159 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair