STAND. COM. REP. NO.  186

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   H.B. No. 1362

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1362 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure genetic counselors practicing in Hawaii will have the training and knowledge to provide the best care to families by establishing a Genetic Counseling Licensure Program (Program) within the Department of Health (DOH).

     The Kapiolani Medical Specialists and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  DOH submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Replacing the Department of Health with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs as the agency in which the Program will be placed for administrative purposes;

(2)  Requiring the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to work with the DOH Genetics Program;

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 1362, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1362, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair