Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 917, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit unauthorized and unqualified individuals from practicing social work by:

The Hawaii State AFL-CIO and eighty concerned citizens submitted testimony in support of this measure.

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Human Services, the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and six concerned citizens opposed this measure.

The clinical social work profession is deeply divided over this measure. Your Committee finds that all interested parties must come to a consensus for the benefit of all social workers.

Therefore, your Committee wishes to facilitate further discussion on this measure by passing it out unamended and requests the chair of your Committee on Human Services and Housing work closely with representatives from opposing sides to resolve key issues to reach an accord.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 917, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.