CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 170

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 , 2009

RE:    S.B. No. 585

       S.D. 2

       H.D. 1

       C.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

     Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 585, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO REMOTE DISPENSING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

     The purpose of this measure is to expand the ability of individuals in remote areas of the State to gain access to prescription medications through the use of remote dispensing pharmacies.

     Your Committee on Conference finds that this measure will allow individuals in remote areas to gain access to their prescription medications in their own communities.  Through the use of advanced telecommunications technology, pharmacists are able to dispense medications to patients at a distance, saving patients both time and money for travel expenses.  Your Committee finds that this measure will help expand access to quality health care to primarily rural and medically underserved areas, while providing appropriate safeguards for the dispensing of controlled substances.

     Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by;

     (1)  Extending the repeal date of Act 212, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, by one year to January 2, 2014;

     (2)  Changing the effective date of the measure to "upon its approval"; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of consistency, clarity, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 585, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 585, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair
____________________________ ROBERT N. HERKES, Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Co-Chair
____________________________ SCOTT NISHIMOTO, Co-Chair