STAND. COM. REP. NO. 574

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 467

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 467, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Public Safety, or its successor agency, to collaborate with the Department of Human Services to develop and establish a Social Work Training Program to assist nonviolent incarcerated individuals in exploring a professional pathway to become eligible to work as assistants to licensed social workers; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, National Association of Social Workers - Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Public Safety. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of social workers in the State to help individuals manage their mental health and cope with stressors in their everyday lives. Your Committee further finds that some nonviolent incarcerated individuals may have experienced the need for social services or may have firsthand experience receiving services from social workers, making them uniquely qualified to enter the field of social work as assistants after undergoing training. This measure addresses the shortage of social workers in the State, while also providing opportunities for nonviolent incarcerated individuals to receive social work training that could prepare them to reintegrate into society after their period of incarceration is over.

Your Committee notes the concern raised in testimony by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs that any professional pathway in the practice of social work developed pursuant to this measure must comply with existing law regulating the licensure of social workers and the use of the title of social worker with a person's name.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 467, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 467, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair