STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1778

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.B. No. 55

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 55, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTRY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to update the licensing requirements for dentists by repealing statutory provisions that provided a means for the State to license dentists prior to the availability of the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) examination.

     The Board of Dental Examiners, Hawaii Dental Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

     Your Committee finds that between February 2004,and December 2005, there was no dental license examination for the State to administer to applicants.  As a result, section 448-9.4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, currently provides that an applicant who has passed a regional examination after February 1, 2004, but prior to the availability of the ADEX examination, will be deemed to have met the examination requirement for licensing.  This provision is no longer necessary as the ADEX examination is currently available and administered to Hawaii applicants.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by having it take effect upon its approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 55, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 55, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair