STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1131-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.B. No. 3027

      S.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 3027, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OSTEOPATHY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to provide uniformity in the practice and regulation of doctors of osteopathy and doctors of medicine. 

More specifically, this measure includes osteopathic physicians in chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the regulation of doctors of medicine, and repeals chapter 460, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to the regulation of osteopathic physicians, thereby consolidating all provisions into a single regulatory law.

     Testimony in support of this measure was received from the Board of Medical Examiners and the Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that the Board of Medical Examiners currently regulates both osteopathic and medical doctors.  Because osteopathic and medical doctors are subject to almost identical education and training requirements to practice as physicians, allowing the Board to regulate both professions through chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, would promote uniformity and equality in regulating doctors who differ only in their approach to their practice as physicians.

     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. 3027, S.D. 2, 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