STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3307

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2031

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2031 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require licensed marriage and family therapists to complete a minimum of forty-five hours of continuing education courses, including six hours in ethics courses, during each licensing renewal period, beginning in 2017.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Marriage and Family Therapists Program, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Hawaii Division, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will ensure that licensed marriage and family therapists will maintain their professional competency and keep abreast of the latest developments in their profession.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Clarifying the scope of application regarding licensing sanctions for false certifications of compliance with the continuing education requirements;

(2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, style, and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2031, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2031, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair