STAND. COM. REP. NO.3223

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2258

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make permanent the law regulating marriage and family therapists and to authorize reciprocal licensure for marriage and family therapists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Hawaii School Counselors Association, Chaminade University, Argosy University, and twenty-three individuals. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs presented comments on the measure.

Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 1998 (Act 159), established the marriage and family therapist licensing law and provided for the law to sunset on December 31, 2002. This measure repeals the law's sunset, thereby making it permanent. Additionally, this measure allows the recognition of licenses issued by other states with licensing requirements at least as stringent as this State's current requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by extending Act 159 for an additional four years, or until December 31, 2006, rather than repealing its sunset. Your Committee also made technical changes to this measure to conform its purpose section to the above amendment and to reflect preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

RON MENOR, Chair