Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2586, S.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to increase the number of dentists and dental hygienists qualified to provide dental services in nonprofit health centers that serve low-income and uninsured communities. This bill authorizes the Board of Dental Examiners (BDE) to issue, without examination, a community service license for dentists and dental hygienists to practice in:

This bill also updates statutory references regarding the accreditation of dental colleges, which is currently handled by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The Department of Health, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, Hawaii Island Dental Task Force, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Good Beginnings Alliance, Kokua Council, Papa Ola Lokahi, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Dental Association supported this measure. The BDE supported this bill with amendments.

Your Committee finds that the prevalence of tooth decay in Hawaii is more than twice the national average, and that Hawaii's children have nearly three times the national average of baby bottle tooth decay, double the number of dental caries, and 60 percent more decayed and filled teeth. Although the State maintains the highest per capita rate of dentists in the country, there is a severe shortage of dental professionals who work in nonprofit health centers.

Community health centers serve populations that are low- income, largely uninsured, and are often in geographically remote areas. This bill will encourage participation by dental professionals from other states to provide dental care services in these communities. Currently, Hawaii is one of only four states that do not grant licensure by credentials.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical and nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2586, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2586, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.