STAND. COM. REP. NO. 371

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1136
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.B. No. 1136 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REGULATION OF OSTEOPATHY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to abolish the Board of
Osteopathic Examiners and transfer its functions to the Board of
Medical Examiners.

     The measure also adds an osteopath to the Board of Medical
Examiners to ensure osteopathic representation is provided.

     Testimony in support of the measure was received from the
Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Auditor.

     The Board of Osteopathic Examiners testified in opposition
to the measure.

     Your Committee finds that a sunset review of the Board of
Osteopathic Examiners was conducted by the Auditor in 1992.  As a
result of that review, the Auditor essentially recommended what
is contained in the measure, citing:

     (1)  Minimal activity of the Board of Osteopathic Examiners;

     (2)  The growing similarity between professions; and


 
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     (3)  That twenty-one other states (at the time of the sunset
          review in 1992) had a single medical board that
          regulated both professions.

     Your Committee believes that the measure is consistent with
the Legislature's recent efforts to streamline government and
will not adversely affect the welfare of the general public.

     Your Committee has amended the measure by increasing the
proposed number of osteopaths to be appointed to the Board of
Medical Examiners from one to two and by making a technical,
nonsubstantive amendment for the purpose of style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and
purpose of S.B. No. 1136, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B.
No. 1136, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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