STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1758-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2647

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2647, H.D. 2, 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. Specifically, this measure permits the applicant to complete 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 Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and an individual testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2018.

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. 2647, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2647, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

ROY M. TAKUMI, Chair