Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2897, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to ensure the continued availability of qualified dentists and dental hygienists by:

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Board, Hawaii Dental Association, and Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association.

Your Committee finds that recognition of regional and other state examinations would occur only when the Pearl Harbor Dental Clinic is closed to civilians due to the imposition of military security measures, and the Board is unable to administer the state-constructed examination at that clinic. The Board searched for other sites to administer the examinations and concluded that the Pearl Harbor Dental Clinic was the only site available.

The eligibility of graduates of foreign dental schools that are not accredited by the ADA has been eliminated to protect the consumer. As of January 1, 2004, all other states will require at least the completion of two years in an ADA-accredited dental school for licensure.

Your Committee has made technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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 S.B. No. 2897, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2897, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.