STAND. COM. REP. NO. 879

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 Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 320, 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 establish a working group to study the feasibility and effects of the State adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact and require a report to the Legislature.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense, Aloha Care, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committees find that the State is facing a severe health care worker shortage. Not only does Hawaii need additional physicians and nurses, but the State needs more licensed psychologist professionals. For many, the aggregate effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic triggered an alarming rise in anxiety and depression, adding to the pre-existing backlogs of individuals attempting to obtain appointments for mental health care, placing persons needing care at an even greater risk of harm. The Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact may offer a potential solution to help serve the State's most vulnerable residents, Medicaid beneficiaries, and those living in rural communities by allowing out-of-state licensed psychologists to practice in Hawaii under certain circumstances. Therefore, this measure establishes a working group to study the feasibility and potential effectiveness of Hawaii's adoption of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 320, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair