STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1450

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 1004

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1004, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve mental healthcare access to people in Hawaii's rural, medically underserved areas by authorizing appropriately trained and supervised licensed medical psychologists practicing in federally qualified health centers or licensed health clinics located in medically underserved areas or in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas, to prescribe psychotropic medications for the treatment of mental illness.

     The Disability and Communication Access Board, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Na Puuwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System, American Psychological Association, Hawaii Psychological Association, Behavioral Health Services of the Molokai Community Health Center, Mental Health America of Hawaii, the Chair of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Community Clinic of Maui, Waikiki Health Center, Papa Ola Lokahi, West Hawaii Community Health Center, Inc., and several of its board members, Hamakua Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Board of Medical Examiners, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Koolau Community Health Center, and several concerned individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Health, Board of Psychology, and a concerned individual submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Clarifying that appropriately trained psychologists shall only be authorized to prescribe psychotropic medication if they are working in a federally qualified health center;

(2)  Requiring that a psychologist applying for a conditional prescription certificate shall have completed training that included a two year postdoctoral program of no less than 44 credit hours (660 hours of classroom instruction) in specified core areas of instruction; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, 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 S.B. No. 1004, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1004, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair