STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2894

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 1906
                                        H.D. 1




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

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred H.B. No. 1906, H.D. 1, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSING OF PSYCHOLOGISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to streamline and expedite
the review of applications for psychologist licensure.

     The Board of Psychology submitted testimony on the measure.

     Currently, the Board of Psychology (Board) must evaluate
each application for licensure to determine whether the
applicant's educational training meets the criteria for a
professional psychology training program as defined in chapter
465, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and whether the applicant has
satisfied the requirement for supervised experience in health
service in psychology.  This review can be burdensome on the
Board and prolong the application process. 

     This measure would streamline and expedite the Board's
review of applications by establishing that the educational and
experiential requirements are satisfied by evidence of a degree
from a clinical psychology program approved by the American
Psychological Association (APA) and evidence of an APA-approved
internship, respectively. 

     Your Committee finds that since the APA standards for
clinical psychology programs are comprehensive and reflect the

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2894
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highest level of psychology training, authorizing the Board to
accept educational and experiential equivalencies will not result
in a lowering of licensing standards nor put consumers at risk
for harm.  Further, since there are numerous APA-approved
doctoral and internship programs operating throughout the nation,
including in the State, a substantial number of applicants should
be able to qualify for licensure based on completion of an APA
doctoral or internship program, thereby broadening the pool of
professionals in the State who are qualified to provide
psychological services. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of H.B. No. 1906, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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