STAND. COM. REP. NO. 697

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 49

       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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to allow the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy to authorize the administration of natural medicines by injections.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy to adopt a formulary and qualifications for administering natural medicines by injection, and to grant the authority to qualified naturopathic physicians.  It also establishes a temporary advisory committee to recommend a formulary and qualifications.

     Written comments in support of this measure were submitted by the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy.  Written comments in opposition of this measure were submitted by the Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that, currently, the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy is not authorized to allow naturopathic physicians to administer natural medicines by injection.  However, the Board may authorize the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients using natural methods or modalities and nature's remedies of the type taught in education and training at naturopathic medical colleges.  Your Committee further finds that the Board contends that the administration of natural medicines by injection is within the scope and practice of naturopathy because, among other things, it is taught in naturopathy classes and naturopathy students are clinically trained in the use of injections in teaching clinics at naturopathic colleges.

     This measure will extend the authority to administer natural medicines by injection to naturopathic physicians within the boundaries as established by a temporary advisory committee.  Its recommendations to the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy will establish the formulary of natural medicines that naturopathic physicians may administer by injection and the qualifications needed before one may administer injections.  The temporary advisory board shall be comprised of naturopathic physicians, a person licensed in medicine, and a person licensed as a pharmacist, all of whom your Committee believes are qualified and appropriate to address concerns with this authority before recommending the formulary and qualifications.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 49, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair