STAND. COM. REP. NO.277-02
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2002
RE: H.B. No. 2258
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2002
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2258 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that marriage and family therapists continue to be regulated by:
(1) Repealing the sunset date for marriage and family therapists; and
(2) Authorizing the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to enter into reciprocity agreements to issue licenses to marriage and family therapists licensed in other states;
This bill also:
(1) Removes the exemption that allows individuals doing work that overlaps with the practice of marriage and family therapy from licensure;
(2) Removes the requirement that no person shall use the title of marriage and family therapist unless the person is licensed as such; and
(3) Repeals the requirement to adhere to ethical standards of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
The Legislative Auditor (Auditor), Hawaii Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and numerous concerned individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. A concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.
The Hawaii Nurses Association opposed the measure. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the National Association of Social Workers submitted comments in support of a part and opposing a part of the measure.
Your Committee finds that this measure implements recommendations of the Auditor in the sunset evaluation report. Your Committee notes that most of the testimony supports the Auditor's recommendations with some amendments.
Accordingly, your Committee has amended this bill by:
(1) Clarifying the reciprocity requirements;
(2) Providing that no one purport to be a marriage and family therapist that is not licensed as one;
(3) Providing that an individual who is not licensed does not offer marriage and family therapy services unless it is within the scope of the individual's occupation; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2258, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |