Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1479 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to address the shortage of dental specialists by allowing specialists who are licensed by a state other than Hawaii, but whose standards are similar, to be allowed to practice in Hawaii.

A concerned individual supported this bill. Another concerned individual provided comments.

Your Committee finds that this bill will address the challenge Hawaii faces in luring dental specialists here to serve our people. With the high percentage of dental maladies faced in our state, especially in under-served, lower-income areas, your Committee believes this bill will attract the talent and resources we need to remedy conditions that adversely affect the oral health of the people of Hawaii.

To encourage further discussion on this important matter, your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020; and

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 H.B. No. 1479, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1479, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.