STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1030-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   S.B. No. 2501

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE BOARD OF DENTISTRY AND DENTAL HYGIENE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make changes to the Board of Dental Examiners in light of changes in dentistry by:

(1)  Changing the name of the "Board of Dental Examiners" to the "Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene";

(2)  Retaining the existing Board of Dentistry composition on the newly-established Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene (Board) until July 1, 2015, but thereafter:

(A)  Increasing the total number of members on the Board from 12 members to 13 members;

(B)  Increasing the number of practicing dental hygienists on the Board from two members to three members; and

(C)  Requiring that a minimum of one Board member be a practicing dentist with a background in public health dentistry or have a license in community service dentistry; and

(3)  Requiring the Board to develop a conflict of interest policy regarding Board member participation with dental examination companies that may provide examinations for Hawaii dentists, and to submit a report to the Legislature on the status of the policy prior to the 2015 Regular Session.

The Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association and two individuals supported this measure.  The Hawaii Dental Association and three individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Health, Board of Dental Examiners, and three individuals commented on this measure.  

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Deleting the qualification requirement regarding licensure in community service dentistry for any practicing dentist who serves on the Board; and

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2014.

     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 S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2501, S.D. 1, 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,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair