STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1160-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2647

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2647 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide an applicant for mental health counselor licensure with more flexibility in completing the required practicum experience hours by permitting the completion of the requisite number of practicum experience hours within two academic terms instead of requiring a minimum number of practicum experience hours per academic term.

The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and several individuals supported this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2647, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2647, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Intrastate Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair