S.B. 322 Summary

• Adopts the Interstate Licensed Professional Counselors Compact to enable licensed professional counselors to practice in member states under a "Privilege to Practice" without obtaining a separate license in each state.

• Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission as a national administrative body composed of one delegate from each member state's licensing board to oversee compact operations, promulgate rules, and maintain a data system tracking licensure and disciplinary information.

• Requires participating states to license counselors with a master's degree (60 semester hours), pass a nationally recognized exam, complete supervised postgraduate experience, and undergo criminal background checks.

• Allows licensed professional counselors holding an unencumbered license in their home state to practice via telehealth or in-person in other member states, subject to each remote state's laws and regulations.

• Effective December 31, 2050; authorizes the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt implementing rules under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 91.