STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3695

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 156

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 156 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PILOT PROGRAM THAT GRANTS PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY TO QUALIFIED PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE COUNTIES OF KAUA‘I, MAUI, AND HAWAI‘I,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to convene a task force to provide recommendations for a pilot program that grants prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists in the counties of Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor for the County of Kaua‘i. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Psychiatric Medical Association and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Board of Psychology and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that recent physician workforce assessments continue to reflect significant shortages of doctors throughout the State, especially in rural communities. The lack of access to appropriate mental health treatment can lead to devastating consequences, including suicide, which is the number one injury-related cause of death among Hawai‘i residents. Your Committee further notes that in recent years, a number of other states have adopted legislation authorizing prescriptive authority for advanced trained psychologists as a means of addressing necessary treatment for mental health patients and have had success with this practice. This measure will help satisfy demands for psychological services, especially in rural areas, by expanding access to psychiatric medication support services in a safe manner. Additionally, according to testimony submitted by the Hawaii Board of Psychology, a pilot program is not necessary, and the Board is prepared to establish regulations authorizing prescriptive authority that will protect the consuming public. Accordingly, amendments to this measure are necessary to advance the establishment of prescriptive authority for certain psychologists.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting findings acknowledging that other states have adopted legislation authorizing prescriptive authority for advanced trained psychologists;

(2) Deleting language requesting the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to convene a task force to provide recommendations for a pilot program that grants prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists in the counties of Kaua‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i;

(3) Inserting language requesting the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Division of Professional and Vocational Licensing, with the assistance of the Board of Psychology, to convene a task force to develop legislation granting prescriptive authority to qualified psychologists practicing in the State of Hawai‘i;

(4) Inserting language requesting that the task force include:

(A) Members representing other prescribing professionals who are amenable to the possibility of prescriptive authority for appropriately trained psychologists; and

(B) Psychologists licensed in the State;

(5) Requesting that the task force:

(A) Review and evaluate laws from other states where psychologists have been granted prescriptive authority, including their subsequent experiences and patient outcomes;

(B) Consider any additional conditions or necessary training that would be required to grant prescriptive authority to psychologists practicing in Hawai‘i;

(C) Determine whether the University of Hawai‘i currently has the personnel to provide the advanced training necessary for psychologists to be granted prescriptive authority; and

(D) Develop appropriate legislation that would grant prescriptive authority to appropriately trained psychologists in Hawai‘i;

(6) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 156, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 156, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair