STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3274

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2331

       H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2331, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BOARD MEMBER TERMS FOR THE BOARD OF NURSING AND THE BOARD OF SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend terms for board members of the Board of Nursing and Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology from three to four years.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, and six individuals.

     Your Committee finds that this measure aligns the terms of board members on the Board of Nursing and Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology with the terms of members serving on the other twenty-three boards and commissions under the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division.  Your Committee further finds that these consistent term limits will encourage longevity, continuity, and effectiveness among board members and ensure board members have ample time to adapt to their roles.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2331, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair