STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1074

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 420

      S.D. 2

      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 S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to increase access to health care services by:

(1)  Authorizing the issuance of temporary licenses for out-of-state naturopathic physicians in times of emergency; and

(2)  Expanding the allowable scope of practice of naturopathic physicians by allowing naturopathic physicians who have proper training to give injections, obtain federal Drug Enforcement Agency registration, and prescribe formulary medications.

     The Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians and numerous concerned individuals supported this bill.  The Board of Examiners in Naturopathy (Board) supported this measure with amendments.  The Department of Public Safety and Hawaii Medical Association opposed this bill.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Regulated Industries Complaints Office submitted comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

(1)  Deleting provisions authorizing naturopathic physicians to prescribe controlled substances;

(2)  Requiring that rules adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board establish standards of practice, care and ethics; require licensees to complete educational courses and training for parenteral therapy; establish requirements for parenteral therapy; and establish requirements for examination on minor office procedures; and

(3)  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 S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2, 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