STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3466

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2335

       H.D. 1

       S.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 Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICIAN DISCIPLINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Authorize the Hawaii Medical Board to impose the same disciplinary action against a licensee as was taken by another state or federal agency;

     (2)  Establish conditions for the disciplinary action; and

     (3)  Prohibit the licensee from practicing until a final order of discipline is issued if the licensee has been prohibited from practicing in another state.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Medical Board, and Hawaii Medical Association.

     Your Committee finds that under existing law, the reasons for which the Hawaii Medical Board can impose reciprocal discipline on a Hawaii licensee are limited.  This measure will protect Hawaii consumers during the disciplinary process by prohibiting a licensee who has been banned from practicing in another jurisdiction from practicing in Hawaii until the Hawaii Medical Board issues a final order.  This protection ensures that Hawaii patients will not be at risk of receiving medical treatment from a licensee who was the subject of serious discipline elsewhere.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2335, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary and Labor,

________________________________

GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN, Chair