Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 113 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request that the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) study the sale of telephone customer usage pattern records to telemarketers.

On April 7, 2006, your Committee filed a hearing notice and a proposed Senate Draft 1 of this measure requesting that the LRB study the issue of authorizing psychologists who have obtained the appropriate education, training, and experience to prescribe a limited formulary of psychotic medications for the treatment of mental illness while practicing in federally qualified health centers or licensed health clinics located in federally designated medically underserved areas or in mental health professional shortage areas.

Testimony in support of the proposed measure was submitted by the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association. Proposed revisions to this measure were submitted by the Hawaii Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that there are competing views on proposed legislation to confer prescriptive authority on clinical psychologists. Proponents of the legislation posit that there are not enough psychiatrists available to serve patients at federally qualified health centers in the State. Proponents of the legislation also argue that with appropriate education, training, and experience, clinical psychologists may be able to prescribe medications, particularly in these centers where there appear to be barriers to the hiring of psychiatrists. Opponents to the legislation assert that the health, safety, and well-being of the public are at risk if prescriptive authority is not retained and exercised only by medically trained and qualified psychiatrists.

Your Committee further finds that, in the interest of the health, safety, and well-being of the public, there is a need to examine these conflicting views and the pros and cons of the appropriateness of conferring prescriptive authority on clinical psychologists to treat mental illness in the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 113, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 113, S.D. 1.