CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 20

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2007

RE:    S.B. No. 58

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 58, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to provide for the orderly disposition of a licensed dentist's practice in the event of the dentist's unexpected death or incapacity by allowing the executor or administrator of the dentist's estate, or the dentist's legal guardian or authorized representative, to operate the practice for up to one year for the purpose of winding down, transferring, or selling the practice.

     The sudden death or incapacitation of a dentist not only affects patients' continuity of care, but also causes the dental practice to rapidly lose value for each day it remains closed.  In such situations, the dentist's family may be forced to hurriedly sell the practice before it loses much of its value; the dentist's work staff may suddenly find themselves unemployed; and existing patients may be confused by the abrupt change in the practice's ownership.  Your Committee finds that this measure seeks to address these concerns by providing a sufficient transition period for a deceased or incapacitated dentist's practice to be closed, transferred, or sold.

     Your Committee has amended this measure to make it effective upon approval.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 58, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 58, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Co-Chair	____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair
____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Co-Chair	____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Co-Chair
____________________________ TOMMY WATERS, Co-Chair