STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1526-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 2159

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2159, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the availability of qualified mental health services by:

     (1)  Repealing the sunset provision for the mental health counselor licensing program under Chapter 453D, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS); and

     (2)  Adding licensed mental health counselors to the list of practitioners who may provide the mental health services required to be included in health insurance policies under Chapter 431M, HRS.

     The Office of the Auditor, Hawaii Rehabilitation Counseling Association, Alliance for Professional Counselor Licensure, Kaiser Permanente, and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.

This bill continues the mental health counselor licensing program established under Act 209, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004.  Your Committee finds that the continued licensure of mental health counselors, along with insurance coverage for their services, will increase access to qualified mental health services.     

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2159, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair