STAND. COM. REP. NO. 49-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1704

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1704 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:

(1) Adopt the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the day-to-day practice of telepsychology by psychologists across state boundaries in the performance of their psychological practice; and

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; and AlohaCare. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Psychology and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact creates a comprehensive process to complement the existing licensing and regulatory authority of state boards of psychology and provide a streamlined process to allow licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology in other compact states. Your Committee notes that over forty states have enacted the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact thus far. Your Committee further finds that adoption of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact by Hawaii will help address the State's severe mental health provider shortage, particularly on the neighbor islands and in underserved communities, by expanding the pool of qualified psychologists who are able to serve Hawaii's residents, while still maintaining quality and safety.

Your Committee notes the concerns regarding implementation of the Compact raised in testimony of the Board of Psychology, particularly the Board's concerns regarding unknown enforcement costs associated with the Compact and that the Compact may limit the Board's authority to determine minimum degree requirements for practice in Hawaii and may allow for degree types that are currently excluded from licensure in Hawaii to practice telepsychology in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1704, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1704, 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,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair