STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1216

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 Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 548, S.D. 1, H.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 exempting from the licensing requirement to practice medicine or surgery in the State, any commissioned medical officer employed by the United States Department of Defense and 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 island of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, or Molokai.

The Department of Hawaii Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and Maui County Veterans Council supported this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Association, and Hawaii Medical Board submitted comments.

     It is your Committee's understanding that there are jurisdictional questions with regard to National Guard armories.  If the National Guard armories are under federal jurisdiction, the health professionals are able to practice under any state's licensure, including Hawaii, and this legislation will not be necessary.  However, if the armories are under state jurisdiction, this bill exempts the health professionals from Hawaii's professional licensure requirements.  Therefore, your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce to seek clarification as to whether the National Guard armories fall under state or federal jurisdiction and the jurisdictional impact on Hawaii's licensure requirements.

     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. 548, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it 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