STAND. COM. REP. 623
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2003
RE: H.B. No. 730
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2003
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 730 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to:
(1) Require an Auditor's report on the regulation of occupational therapists to be submitted prior to the 2007 legislature;
(2) Remove references to regulation of occupational therapy assistants from chapter 457G, Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS); and
(3) Repeal temporary permit provisions of chapter 457G, HRS, that allow an individual who has met educational and supervised field work experience requirements but has not yet passed the national certification exam, to provide occupational therapy services under the direct supervision of a registered occupational therapist; and
(4) Repeal the definition of "direct supervision."
The Department of Education, Hawaii Medical Services Association, Hawaii Chapter-American Physical Therapy Association, and numerous individuals supported this bill. The Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii and several individuals supported the bill and offered amendments. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.
Your Committee finds that while there has been no current documentation of harm done to the consumer, regulation of professional competency and ethical conduct of occupational therapists may have had a preventive effect. Your Committee believes that continued regulation of occupational therapists serves to safeguard the public's health, safety, welfare, and assure consumers that they are receiving services from a qualified individual.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 730 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,
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____________________________ KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair |
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