STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3459

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 66

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 66 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A SUNRISE REVIEW OF THE REGULATION OF VETERINARY TECHNICIANS AND THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the State Auditor to conduct a sunrise review of the regulation of veterinary technicians and the practice of veterinary technology.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Board of Veterinary Examiners, and Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that veterinary technicians are valuable team members of the veterinary profession, as they assist veterinarians and serve other roles in the care and treatment of animals.  However, veterinary technicians and the practice of veterinary technology are not presently licensed or regulated in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that this measure requests the Auditor to perform a sunrise review pursuant to section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on the regulation of veterinary technicians and the practice of veterinary technology, as proposed by Senate Bill No. 2502, S.D. 1, Regular Session of 2014.  The Auditor's analysis would set forth the probable effects of the proposed regulatory measure, assess whether its enactment is consistent with section 26H-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and assess alternate forms of regulation.  Your Committee additionally finds that a sunrise review is the necessary next step toward the licensing and regulation of veterinary technicians and the practice of veterinary technology, which will improve the level of care for animals in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 66, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair