STAND. COM. REP. NO. 897-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: S.B. No. 2595

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2595, S.D. 2, 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; and

(c) Exempts certain individuals from licensing;

and

(2) Appropriating funds to implement the Program.

 

Kaiser Permanente, Alliance for Professional Counselor Licensure, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Child and Family Service, Hawaii Vocational Services, Sestak Rehabilitation Services, National Association of Social Workers, University of Phoenix – Hawaii Campus, and many concerned individuals supported this bill. The State Auditor and DCCA provided comments.

Your Committee finds that a greater supply of qualified mental health professionals is needed to enable the State to meet the demands imposed by the Felix Consent Decree. This bill establishes regulatory measures for the licensure of mental health counselors, and criteria to assure that mental health counselors are qualified and trained, thereby protecting consumers of mental health services.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Adding a repeal date of December 31, 2008, to ensure continued review of the Program by the Legislature; and

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

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

S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

 

____________________________

DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair