STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3470

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.R. No. 58
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.R.
No. 58, S.D. 1, entitled:

     "SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING A STUDY OF SOCIAL WORK
     LICENSING LAWS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this resolution is to request the Legislative
Reference Bureau to conduct a study of social work licensing
laws.

     In particular, the Bureau is requested to review chapter
467E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the social work licensure laws
of other states, including multi-tiered laws that allow for
"clinical level", "bachelor level", and other levels of
licensure.

     The study is further requested to include the rationale of
the majority of states to support multi-tiered licensing of
social workers; the impact on, and benefits to, the public of
multi-tiered licensing; the rationale for states to choose
"practice laws" rather than "title protection" licensure laws;
continuing education requirements in other states' licensing
requirements; funding mechanisms in other states; levels of
supervision, credentialing, education, training, experience, and
expertise required in other states' licensing laws; and the cost

 
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of implementing alternative social work licensure laws for
Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that there is an increased interest in
the professional social work community to enhance and restructure
the current social work licensure law, and that there are a
variety of licensure options to be considered in restructuring
the current law.  Your Committee agrees that an independent
review of the options available, in consultation with the major
professional social work groups, the public, and other
stakeholders, will facilitate an understanding of the various
restructuring options.

     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.R. No. 58,
S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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



                                 ________________________________
                                 CAROL FUKUNAGA, Co-Chair



                                 ________________________________
                                 ANDREW LEVIN, Co-Chair

 
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