STAND. COM. REP. NO.  42

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 770

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 770 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide for the orderly transition of a dental practice during contingencies by allowing the executor or administrator of a dentist's estate or the legal guardian or authorized representative of a dentist to contract with a licensed dentist to continue the operations of the deceased or incapacitated dentist for up to one year.

     The Hawaii Dental Association and several concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Board of Dental Examiners submitted comments on this measure.

     Your Committee finds that current law only allowing a licensed dentist to own and operate a dental practice is unduly prohibitive to the spouse, family members, executor, or administrator of the estate of a deceased or incapacitated dentist.  The dentist's representative is unable to continue service by hiring other licensed dentists or sell the practice unless the representative is also a licensed dentist.  This bill will correct this problem and provide some relief to families already burdened with the loss of a loved one and benefactor.

     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. 770 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair