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Committee defers psychology‑compact bill after board raises oversight, cultural and background‑check concerns
Summary
Lawmakers deferred HB 17‑04 to address concerns raised by the DCCA Board of Psychology and practitioners about background checks, education standards, cultural fit and possible immunity language in the interstate compact; DOC said the compact could expand access to psychologists for forensic evaluations and jail diversion, citing 23 open positions and only four psychologists on staff.
Lawmakers deferred HB 17‑04 HD1, which would adopt the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow telepsychology and temporary cross‑state practice, after the DCCA Board of Psychology and other practitioners raised substantive questions about licensing standards, background checks and cultural competency.
Dr. Erin Wilkinson, Mental Health Branch Administrator for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, described severe staffing shortages inside correctional facilities: "We have 23 psychology positions available. We have 4 in place." She told the committee that the compact could enable licensed psychologists from other states to provide telepsychology and help reduce wait times for forensic evaluations that currently can take months.
Christopher Fernandez, executive officer of the DCCA Board of Psychology, said the board supports some aims of the compact but urged the committee to consider whether a psychology‑specific study had been done, called attention to requirements such as FBI background checks, and warned the state would cede certain regulatory authority, including around education standards and temporary permits (section 465‑9 referenced).
Practitioner concerns: Several licensed psychologists and academia representatives on Zoom opposed or urged caution, citing cultural sensitivity risks if out‑of‑state teleproviders serve Native Hawaiian families, potential revenue loss for local licensees and the need to strengthen temporary licensing and regulatory guardrails.
Operational questions: Committee members asked whether mainland telepsychologists could practically serve corrections populations, whether pay and the state security clearance process were barriers, and how to ensure local providers are used when available. DOC said it prefers local hires but currently cannot meet demand and would screen any out‑of‑state providers for appropriateness.
Committee action: The chair cited the Board of Psychology’s concerns and recommended deferral; the committee deferred HB 17‑04 for further work.
