STAND. COM. REP. NO. 748

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 420

       S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 420, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the allowable scope of practice of naturopathic physicians by allowing naturopathic physicians who have proper training to administer parenteral therapy, give injections, obtain federal Drug Enforcement Agency registration, and prescribe formulary medications.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians and 145 private citizens.  Testimony with comments on this measure was received from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Your Committee finds that naturopathic physicians are important providers of preventative and primary health care for many Hawaii residents.  Your Committee further finds that the allowable practices contained in this measure are consistent with the education and training received by a naturopathic physician who meets the State's licensing requirements for the provision of these services.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Removing the provisions relating to parenteral therapy to allow the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy to make rules regulating the practice of parenteral therapy by a naturopathic physician;

     (2)  Clarifying the definition of "radiography";

     (3)  Deferring the effective date of sections 1, 2, and 3 to allow the Board of Examiners in Naturopathy an opportunity to enact the administrative rules required to implement this measure; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purpose of clarity and accuracy in the language of this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 420, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 420, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair