STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2907

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2080

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve access to mental health providers in the State.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the Governor to enter into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary provision of in‑person, face-to-face psychology services by psychologists licensed in other states; and

(2) Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Mental Health, Hawaii State Association of Counties, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, AlohaCare, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and two individuals.

Your Committees received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Board of Psychology; The Hawai`i School of Professional Psychology; Jennifer (Dr. Hamada) Apato, Psy.D. LLC; Hawaii Government Employees Association; and nine individuals.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Psychological Association and Knee Regulatory Research Center.

Your Committees find that many residents struggle to obtain mental health care due to an acute shortage of psychologists in Hawaii. This measure authorizes the State's adoption of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, which facilitates the practice of psychology across state boundaries. Your Committees believe that removing cross-state barriers to care will increase access to qualified psychologists, particularly in underserved communities and on neighbor islands.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2080, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair