HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

453

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

Relating to psychologists.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there is a core of basic theory, principles, and accumulated behavior that all psychologists should possess, and that psychologists have an ethical obligation to undertake ongoing efforts to develop and maintain their competence.  The American Psychological Association, recognized by Hawaii for providing licensure guidelines, has adopted policies to ensure that psychologists keep pace with emerging issues and increase competencies.  Continuing education ensures that there are ongoing processes to improve training, enhance treatment, and maintain awareness of emerging issues and technologies.  In recognition of this, the legislature passed Act 187, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, which requires psychologists to take continuing education classes as part of maintaining their license to practice psychology.

     The legislature further finds that research strongly indicates that domestic violence figures predominantly among social issues for Hawaii.  The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010 estimated that 142,000 women were subjected to violence in some way by an intimate partner.  Exposure to domestic violence may negatively affect parenting skills and contribute to the development of significant psychological disorders.  Protecting women and children exposed to domestic violence and providing effective empirically validated treatment is essential in the continuum of care.  Therefore, the legislature finds it is appropriate to include training on ethics and domestic violence within the continuing education requirement.

     The purpose of this Act is to include ethics training and domestic violence training as part of the continuing education requirement for psychologists.

     SECTION 2.  Section 465-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Beginning with the July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2018, biennium period and prior to every biennial renewal thereafter, each licensee shall:

     (1)  Pay all required fees; and

     (2)  Complete a minimum of eighteen credit hours of continuing education within every licensing biennium[.]; provided that a minimum of three credit hours shall be in ethics training and a minimum of two credit hours shall be in domestic violence training."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Psychologist Continuing Education; Ethics; Domestic Violence

 

Description:

Amends the continuing education requirement for psychologists to include at least three credit hours of ethics training and at least two credit hours of domestic violence training.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.