STAND. COM. REP. NO.  217-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 2570

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2570 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSING OF DIETITIANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to consolidate the licensing of registered dieticians as healthcare professionals under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

The Department of Health and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Dietetic Association and an individual testified in support of the intent of this measure.  American Nutrition Association, Alliance for Natural Health USA, Certified Nutritionist Specialists, New Jersey Nutrition Association, New York Nutrition Association, University of Bridgeport, and many individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Executive Director of the Michigan Nutrition Association and several individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Specifying that no person may, rather than shall, engage in dietetic practice or purport to be a licensed dietitian or use the letters "L.D." without meeting the requirements of licensure;

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate continued discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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. 2570, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2570, 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