S.R. No. 88 Summary

• Urges the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Hawaii Division to collaborate on developing draft legislation establishing continuing education requirements for all licensed marriage and family therapists in Hawaii.

• Notes that Hawaii is one of only three states without continuing education requirements in their licensing law for marriage and family therapists.

• Identifies key issues to address in legislation: avoiding undue burden on rural therapists, using established non-governmental entities to approve continuing education credits, and ensuring the program is cost-neutral to the State.

• Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: Hawaii Division to submit a proposed draft bill no later than twenty days before the Regular Session of 2014.

• Recognizes the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy's national representation of approximately 25,000 therapists and Hawaii Division's representation of about 360 therapists across the State.