STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1198-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2333

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATED TO LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve clarity and facilitate understanding in the law by reducing ambiguity in the term "marriage and family therapist".

     Specifically, this measure:

     (1)  Permits marriage and family therapists licensed pursuant to chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to use the title "licensed marriage and family therapist"; and

     (2)  Makes conforming amendments to chapter 431M, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and sixteen individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments on the measure.

     Your Committee finds that, pursuant to chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, marriage and family therapists in Hawaii are licensed by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.  Your Committee also finds that although chapter 451J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides a licensing procedure for marriage and family therapists, other chapters of the Hawaii Revised Statutes generally refer to marriage and family therapists without clarifying that it is a licensed profession.  Your Committee further finds that this measure is intended to align Hawaii law with forty-eight other states that use the title "licensed marriage and family therapist."

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2333, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair