STAND. COM. REP. NO. 294

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 548

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Technology and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 548 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TELEMEDICINE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to exempt from the licensing requirement to practice medicine in the State any commissioned medical officer or commissioned or civilian behavioral health professional employed by the U.S. Department of Defense, who is credentialed by Tripler Army Medical Center, while providing direct telemedicine support or services to neighbor island beneficiaries within a Hawaii National Guard armory on the islands of Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, or Maui.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Defense, State of Hawaii; Oahu Veterans Center; Maui Veterans Council; Community Alliance for Mental Health; and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board.

     Your Committees find that enhanced medical services for National Guard armories on the islands of Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, and Maui will have a direct and long term impact for health care accessibility for neighbor island beneficiaries.  This measure will improve mental health counseling and services for armed service members serving our nation.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Technology and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 548 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Technology and the Arts,

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair	____________________________ WILL ESPERO, Chair
	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair