STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2909

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 847

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 847, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Allow qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to patients under the care of the psychologist in certain circumstances; and

(2) Require the Board of Psychology to adopt rules.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Mayor of the County of Kauaʻi, Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Mental Health Coalition, Liz Everett PsyD LLC, and seventeen individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaiʻi Psychiatric Medical Association, Philippine Medical Association of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Association of Professional Nurses, Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, a petition signed by numerous individuals, and forty-four individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of psychiatrists throughout the State, particularly on neighbor islands, resulting in a lack of access to adequate mental health care. This measure would improve access to mental health care for residents in the State by allowing appropriately qualified psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications under certain conditions.

Your Committee notes the numerous concerns raised in testimony regarding the appropriateness of licensing psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications in the State, as proposed by this measure.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have established a new part in chapter 465, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to patients in certain circumstances;

(2) Inserting language to establish a three-year pilot program to be administered by the State Health Planning and Development Agency, in partnership with the Board of Psychology, to allow psychologists to prescribe psychotropic medications for patients being treated in federally qualified health centers located in the County of Kauai;

(3) Inserting language to require the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report to the Legislature at the conclusion of the pilot program;

(4) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(6) 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 Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 847, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 847, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair