STAND. COM. REP. NO. 699

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1674

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 1674, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow medical practitioners in radiology licensed to practice in another state, to provide radiology services by telemedicine while in Hawaii to a patient who is located in the state in which the medical practitioner is licensed to practice radiology.

     The measure also makes numerous technical, nonsubstantive amendments to the laws relating to the practice of medicine and surgery and radiologic technology.

     The Board of Medical Examiners submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that this measure would enable radiologists to practice radiology via telecommunications to patients from this State to the state of licensure.  Your Committee believes that radiologists should not be required to obtain Hawaii licensure if services are not being provided to patients in the State.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1674, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair