STAND. COM. REP. NO.  173-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2321

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2321 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Clarify that the practicum internship experience requirement is to be included with the coursework in counseling requirement for a mental health counselor; and

 

     (2)  Permit applicants to fulfill all or part of their face-to-face clinical supervision requirement through a videoconference service.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, The University of Hawaii at Hilo, Democratic Party of Hawaii, and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Mental Health Counselors Licensing Program (Program) does not align to other jurisdictions with regard to the hours required of course work in counseling.  Under existing law, applicants for a mental health counselor license in Hawaii must provide fifty-four semester hours or eighty-two quarter hours of course work training.  However, under the national standard, applicants need only to provide forty-eight semester hours or seventy-two quarter hours of course work training.  This measure aligns the licensing requirement standards under state law to the national standard.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Intrastate Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2321, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2321, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Intrastate Commerce,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

TAKASHI OHNO, Chair