Bill Text: HI HCR201 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Licensed Psychologists; Continuing Education; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-04-22 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HCR201 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HCR201-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	201
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging the department of commerce and consumer affairs and the hawaii psychological ASSOCIATION to develop DRAFT LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING, IMPLEMENTING, AND MONITORING continuing education requirements for ALL licensed psychologists IN HAWAII.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the profession of psychology provides critically needed services in prevention, intervention, and treatment to a broad spectrum of clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is vitally important that psychologists provide the best possible service to their clients; and

 

     WHEREAS, continuing education is essential to help psychologists maintain their professional competency and keep abreast of the latest developments in their profession; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is one of only six states that do not require continuing education credits as part of their licensing law for psychologists; and

 

     WHEREAS, the American Psychological Association is a membership organization that represents approximately 84,000 psychologists across the nation, and the Hawaii chapter represents about three hundred psychologists across the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is charged with protecting consumers through its regulatory and licensing responsibilities; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychological Association are currently working together on specific provisions to be included in a bill to establish continuing education requirements for licensed psychologists; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychological Association have also identified issues relevant to the requirement for continuing education for licensed psychologists, such as:

 

     (1)  Ensuring that such requirements do not impose an undue burden on psychologists in rural areas of Hawaii;

 

     (2)  Using an established, widely recognized non-governmental entity to approve continuing education credits; and

 

     (3)  Ensuring that the program to implement and monitor continuing education credits for licensed psychologists is cost-neutral to the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, there are currently opportunities offered by approved providers for continuing education statewide, including in rural areas, such as in-person courses, webinars, and teleconferences; and

 

     WHEREAS, continuing education opportunities should be made available to members and non-members of the Hawaii Psychological Association; and

 

     WHEREAS, the joint effort of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychological Association is critical in increasing and maintaining the professional competence of licensed psychologists in Hawaii through a continuing education program; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychological Association are urged to continue collaborating on the issue of developing, implementing, and monitoring continuing education requirements for all licensed psychologists in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2014, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Psychological Association are requested to submit to the Legislature a proposed draft for a bill to establish, implement, and monitor continuing education requirements for all licensed psychologists in Hawaii; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and President of the Hawaii Psychological Association.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Licensed Psychologists; Continuing Education; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs