STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3254

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 2278
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.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. 2278, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL WORKERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to maintain the quality of
social service care provided in Hawaii.

     This measure:

     (1)  Allows the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
          (Director) to enter into reciprocal licensing
          agreements with other states; provided that the
          director finds the reciprocal state's licensing
          requirements to be equal or greater to Hawaii's
          requirements;

     (2)  Allows the Director to issue a license by endorsement
          by honoring a passing score on the Association of
          Social Work Boards exam; provided the requirements
          under section 467E-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) are
          also met and that the passing score is from the
          examination category the other state uses to satisfy
          its licensing requirement;

     (3)  Deletes the sunset provision for chapter 467E, HRS; and


 
a                                                     HB2278 SD1
                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3254
                                   Page 2


     (4)  Sets the filing deadline for applicants who have passed
          the Academy of Certified Social Workers examination
          prior to June 30, 1995 as June 30, 2000.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Department of
Human Services, the Department of Health, Tripler Army Medical
Center, the Office of the Lead Agent of the Department of
Defense, Kaiser Permanente, the National Association of Social
Workers, Child and Family Services, Kahi Mohala, Aloha House
Maui, Hospice Maui, Maui Memorial Medical Center, the Healthcare
Association of Hawaii, and forty-three individuals.

     Your Committee agrees that it is of vital importance to
maintain the highest level of social service provided by social
workers licensed in Hawaii and has amended the effective date of
this measure to June 30, 2000.

     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. 2278, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and
recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached
hereto as H.B. No. 2278, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, 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

 
a                                                     HB2278 SD1