STAND. COM. REP. NO.  104-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2242

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2242 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR VETERINARIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the quality of veterinary care in Hawaii by establishing continuing education requirements for veterinarians for the renewal of their licenses.

The Board of Veterinary Examiners, Windward Community College, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation submitted comments.

     After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Specifying that continuing education courses must be approved by the Board of Veterinary Examiners, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Veterinary State Boards' Registry, or other board-approved organizations;

     (2)  Providing that the continuing education requirements established by the measure shall commence with the licensing biennium for which the renewal deadline is June 30, 2016;

     (3)  Clarifying that failure to renew a license on or before June 30 of each even-numbered year will automatically constitute a forfeiture of the license; provided that the license will be restored upon written application therefor if the renewal fee, penalty fees, and documentation of the completion of continuing education credits, as applicable, are submitted by the licensee to the Board of Veterinary Examiners;

     (4)  Removing the provision that would have allowed a licensee who has not met the new continuing education requirements to renew a license, subject to suspension of the license pending compliance with the continuing education requirement; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2242, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2242, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ROBERT N. HERKES, Chair