STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2537

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2647

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, 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 and intent of this measure is to amend the practicum experience requirements for qualification for licensure as a mental health counselor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Counselors Association, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing educational requirements for application for licensure as a mental health counselor are overly specific, which has prevented some otherwise qualified individuals from gaining licensure. This measure generalizes the practicum intern experience to at least six semester hours or ten quarter hours within at least two academic terms, rather than requiring at least three semester hours or five quarter hours per academic term. Your Committee notes that this measure does not change the total practicum intern experience hours for licensure as a mental health counselor; rather, this measure provides greater flexibility for mental health counselor applicants to schedule and complete their practicum experience.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2647 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair