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 S.B. No. 1064 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to streamline the license renewal process for physicians and surgeons by eliminating ineffective educational requirements and substituting random audits for the provisional evidence of compliance with educational requirements by physicians, surgeons, and podiatrists at the time of renewal.

Your Committee heard testimony in support of the measure from the Lieutenant Governor, Board of Medical Examiners, and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committee finds that, currently, medical physicians, emergency medical ambulance service personnel, and podiatrists are required, at the time of renewal, to submit documentation indicating that they have complied with continuing education requirements. Due to the large number of licensees submitting documentation, the renewal process is cumbersome and time-consuming. Board of Medical Examiners' staff reviews each renewal to ensure that documentation has been submitted. Moreover, as there is no uniform or standard form of documentation employed by the providers of continuing education programs, a speedy review of the documentation is not possible.

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 S.B. No. 1064 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.