STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2990

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2031

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, 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 in Hawaii to complete a minimum of forty-five credit hours of continuing education courses during each licensing renewal triennium, beginning January 1, 2017.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Marriage and Family Therapists Program of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and fifteen individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of only two states that do not currently require continuing education credits for licensed marriage and family therapists.  Continuing education ensures that licensed marriage and family therapists have access to best practices and innovations in the marriage and family therapy field and can continue to provide quality services to a wide array of clients.  Your Committee further finds that the continuing education requirements in this measure will ensure that licensed marriage and family therapists in Hawaii maintain their professional competency and keep abreast of the latest developments in the marriage and family therapy profession.

     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 H.B. No. 2031, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair