STAND. COM. REP. NO. 488

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 320

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 320 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to adopt the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense, Hawaii Medical Service Association, AlohaCare, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Psychology, Hawaii Association for Justice, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Hawai‘i Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of health care service providers in the State, including psychologists. Access to psychological services is particularly acute for the State's most vulnerable residents, Medicaid beneficiaries, and those living in rural communities. To increase access to services, this measure adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow psychologists to practice across state lines via telecommunication technologies and in person under certain circumstances.

Your Committee notes the number of concerns raised in testimony submitted on this measure, including those regarding privacy rights of practitioners and patients, nature and powers of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact Commission, indemnification for state regulatory entities, authorization of unlicensed services, educational requirements for licensure, and unintended economic repercussions. Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting language that:

(A) Establishes a working group to study the feasibility and effects of the State adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact;

(B) Designates the membership composition of the working group; and

(C) Requires the working group to submit a report to the Legislature;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair