STAND. COM. REP. 577

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1161

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1161 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGIST LICENSING REQUIREMENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to:

(1) Provide that the minimum qualifications for psychologist licensure in this State are met by a person who possesses a current:

(A) Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology from the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB certificate); or

(B) Credential from the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (NRHSP credential);

(2) Repeal overly burdensome Hawaii license requirements for senior psychologists;

(3) Repeal the open-book jurisprudence examination; and

(4) Remove outdated statutory material and make conforming amendments.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology (Board) and Hawaii Psychological Association. The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association offered comments.

Your Committee finds that persons possessing an ASPPB certificate or NRHSP credential have met educational requirements that equal or exceed those for a psychologist license in this State. Accepting the ASPPB certificate and NRHSP credential will expedite the licensing process and increase the number of licensed psychologists in Hawaii, without diminishing consumer protection.

Your Committee further finds that senior psychologists:

(1) Are currently licensed in another jurisdiction;

(2) Possess a license based on a doctoral degree; and

(3) Have been so licensed for 20 consecutive years, discipline free.

Your Committee finds that senior psychologists have already demonstrated their qualifications and competence, making the educational and supervised experience requirements repealed by this bill redundant restrictions that work to prevent qualified psychologists from providing services to the people of Hawaii.

Finally, your Committee understands that the open book examination in jurisprudence ensures that a licensed applicant is familiar with laws and rules that apply to Hawaii's psychologists. The Board has determined the same purpose may be accomplished by a statement that the applicant has read, understands, and will comply with these laws and rules. Thus the Board intends to replace the examination in jurisprudence with a self-attestation statement.

To facilitate further discussion on this matter, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050.

Technical, nonsubstantive amendments have also been made for purposes of clarity and style.

 

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1161, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1161, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair