STAND. COM. REP. NO.  943

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   S.B. No. 548

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 548, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEMEDICINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance accessibility to medical services for members of the armed services in Hawaii by allowing certain individuals to provide direct telemedicine support or services to neighbor island beneficiaries within a Hawaii National Guard armory on the islands of Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, or Maui.  Specifically, this bill exempts from the licensing requirement to provide direct telemedicine support or services in the State:

     (1)  Any commissioned medical officer or commissioned behavioral health professional employed by the United States Department of Defense, who is employed by the United States Department of Defense and credentialed by Tripler Army Medical Center; and

     (2)  Any civilian behavioral health professional who is otherwise licensed under Hawaii law as a marriage and family therapist; a mental health counselor; or a psychologist and who is employed by the United States Department of Defense and credentialed by Tripler Army Medical Center.  

The State Adjutant General and Department of the State of Hawaii-Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Psychiatric Association testified in opposition to this bill.  The Hawaii Medical Board and Board of Psychology provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Limiting the scope of the exemption from licensure to provide direct telemedicine support or services to neighbor island beneficiaries to commissioned medical officers employed by the United States Department of Defense, who are credentialed by Tripler Army Medical Center;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further 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 Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 548, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 548, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Veterans, Military, & International Affairs, & Culture and the Arts,

____________________________

K. MARK TAKAI, Chair