Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 251 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a professional counselor licensing program.

Your Committees received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Damien Memorial High School, Chaminade University, Hawaii Counseling Association, Catholic Charities, SESTAK Rehabilitation Services, and three individuals.

Your Committees find that forty-seven states and the District of Columbia already have licensure laws. Two other states are close to passing theirs, therefore, Hawaii will be the only state in the nation that does not license its mental health professional counselors. Licensure provides public safety by providing consistent and accountable standards of practice.

Your Committees have amended this measure by defecting the effective date to promote further discussion and deliberation on this measure. Also, your Committees have made nonsubstantive, technical changes.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 251, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 251, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.