STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2333

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2159

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2159 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROFESSIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure the continued provision of mental health services by licensed mental health counselors by repealing section 26H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which repeals the mental health counselor regulatory program as of December 31, 2008.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Kaiser Permanente, the Alliance for Professional Counselor Licensure, Sestak Rehabilitation Services, Hawaii Rehabilitation Counseling Association, Ka Mauli Ola, and eight individuals.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that state licensure for mental health counselors assures professionalism and protection of consumer health.  Masters level mental health clinicians bring valuable skills to the community.  The title and practice of these clinicians should be protected and made permanent.

     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. 2159 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair