STAND. COM. REP. NO. 533

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1805

       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. 1805 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO GENETIC COUNSELORS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare by assuring the highest degree of professional conduct on the part of genetic counselors.

     The measure accomplishes this purpose by establishing a licensure program for genetic counselors to be administered by an unspecified state department.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the March of Dimes, Hawaii Community Genetics, and nine individuals.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in support of this measure with suggested amendments.

     Your Committee finds that genetic counselors are a vital part of the health care team that provides care to individuals throughout their lifespan.  Your Committee further finds that licensure of genetic counselors is necessary to protect the public from persons unauthorized and untrained to perform these services.  This measure will ensure quality health care services are provided by highly trained professionals.

     Your Committee amended this measure by:

     (1)  Establishing that the Department of Health shall administer the licensure program;

     (2)  Removing the ability of an individual who, at the time of application, has a doctoral degree from a medical genetics training program accredited by the American Board of Medical Genetics or an equivalent training program as determined by that board to obtain a provisional license; and

     (3)  Implementing the program as of July 1, 2008, with the first renewal deadline occurring on July 1, 2009.

     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. 1805, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1805, 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