Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purposes of this measure are to remove the sunset date of Chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, pertaining to regulation of marriage and family therapists, and to allow the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states to issue marriage and family therapist licenses to those licensed in another state, so long as the licensing requirements of that state are at least as stringent as Hawaii's.

Your Committee received testimony favoring this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Chaminade University, two individuals of Argosy University, Law Offices of Philip S. Nerney, Kelly & Associates, Compassionate Counseling, Bobby Benson Center, Hawaii International Child, Properties of the Pacific, Damien Memorial High School, National Association of Social Workers, and twenty-six individuals. Comments on this measure were received from Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the health of Hawaii's citizens is too important to risk losing this highly qualified group of mental health providers. This professional group has been shown to reduce mental health costs by encouraging rate competition between other providers while providing consumers with a viable, professional alternative. By recognizing the licensure of marriage and family therapists, this measure encourages fair competition among mental health providers, and challenges the long-standing monopoly psychiatry and clinical psychology have held on the mental health market.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2258, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing.