SB 1444 - Mental Health Provisional Licensure

• Establishes provisional or associate-level licenses for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers in training to complete post-degree supervised experience hours.

• Authorizes insurance reimbursement for services provided by these provisional licensees when supervised by fully licensed practitioners, provided the supervising professional is a contracted insurance provider and billing rates are commensurate with training level.

• Allows provisional licenses valid for one to two years renewable while applicants complete required supervised clinical hours for full licensure, addressing Hawaii's shortage of mental health professionals.

• Amends Chapters 451J, 453D, 465, and 467E of Hawaii Revised Statutes to define associate-level practitioners and modify clinical supervision requirements to accommodate additional supervisees.

• Appropriates funds and declares the general fund expenditure ceiling exceeded; most provisions take effect July 1, 2026, subject to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval for insurance reimbursement provisions.