STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1307

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 320

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group to study the feasibility and effects of the State adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense, AlohaCare, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Hawai‘i Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that the State is facing a shortage of health care workers, including psychologists. Your Committee further finds that establishing a working group to study the benefits, implementation and administration, and economic feasibility of adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact will assist the State in making well-informed decisions regarding potential solutions to address the State's mental health provider shortages.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the parameters of the study;

(2) Adding as members of the working group one member of the Board of Psychology and a licensed psychologist or a representative of the Hawaii Psychological Association;

(3) Specifying a dissolution date of July 1, 2024, for the working group;

(4) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) 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 Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair