STAND. COM. REP. NO. 509

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 200

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 200 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require licensed social workers to complete a minimum of fifteen credit hours of continuing education courses for the licensing renewal period beginning July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2016, and forty-five credit hours of continuing education courses during each licensing renewal period beginning July 1, 2016, and thereafter.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Psychological Association; and nine individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that social workers need to be up-to-date on the latest developments in their field.  It is important that licensed social workers have access to the best practices and innovations in the field of social work and can continue to provide quality services to an array of clients.

Your Committee further finds that every state except Colorado and Hawaii has continuing education requirements for social workers.  Social workers provide critical services in prevention, intervention, and treatment to a broad spectrum of clientele, including vulnerable women, children, elderly, and families, who are often dealing with challenges such as gender-based violence, access to health care, issues relating to death and dying, and many other issues that intersect with gender in unique ways.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 200 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair