STAND. COM. REP. NO. 395

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 49

       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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 49 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy to adopt a formulary, qualifications, and rules allowing naturopaths to administer natural medicines by injection.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy (Board), Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, and nineteen individuals.  Testimony in opposition was received from the Department of Health (DOH) and Hawaii Medical Association.

     Testimony from the Board indicates that the administration of natural medicines using injections is within the scope and practice of naturopathy.  The use of injections is taught in naturopathic colleges.  The licensure exam includes questions on intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection and vaccination.  This measure does not include the authority to inject prescription drugs.

     Your Committee notes that the Governor vetoed a similar measure in 2006, H.B. No. 1155, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, that would have provided for the adoption of a formulary and qualifications for administering natural medicines by injection.

     Your Committee further notes the objections of the DOH that the measure does not sufficiently define which substances are and are not included in "natural medicines."  The DOH testified that last year's bill contained a provision to establish a temporary advisory committee on the administration of natural medicines by injection, to make recommendations for a formulary of natural medicines as well as qualifications to administer such substances by injection.

     Your Committee believes that more discussion is necessary before this measure passes the Legislature.  Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on its merits.

     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. 49, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair