STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2566

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2466

       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 S.B. No. 2466 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 during each licensing triennium subsequent to their first license renewal.

     The National Association of Social Workers and four concerned individuals submitted written comments in support of this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted written comments on this measure.

     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.  As a result of this measure, Hawaii will no longer be one of two remaining states that do not require continuing education as part of its marriage and family therapist licensing laws.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

     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 S.B. No. 2466, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2466, S.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair