Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 588, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to streamline the license renewal requirements for physicians and surgeons by eliminating ineffective educational requirements and no longer requiring physicians, surgeons, and podiatrists to provide evidence of compliance with education requirements at the time of renewal. This measure subjects them to random audits to assure compliance with educational requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Board of Medical Examiners, and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that there are inefficiencies in the license renewal process for physicians, surgeons, and podiatrists. Currently, continuing education requirements for physicians and surgeons include participation in Category 1 and Category 2 activities. This measure specifies that physicians and surgeons need only participate in Category 1 activities. Your Committee finds that, for purposes of license renewal, Category 1 activities are sufficient.

In addition, your Committee finds that there is excessive paper work involved in the license renewal process. This measure eliminates excess paper work by simply subjecting physicians, surgeons, and podiatrists to random audits to ensure compliance with continuing education requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting the Senate version of this measure, S.B. No. 1064, and making nonsubstantive technical changes to this measure, as amended, to reflect preferred drafting style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 588, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 588, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.