STAND. COM. REP. NO.  529-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2403

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2403 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Medical Advisory Board by establishing a more practical composition of Board members.

The Department of Transportation testified in support of this measure.

     The Medical Advisory Board was established to address traffic safety issues related to drivers' health or ability.  The duties of the Board include developing a system for medically evaluating a person for whom an examiner of drivers has reason to believe mental or physical conditions might impair driving ability and furnishing advice to the examiners of drivers regarding medical criteria and vision standards.

     Under current law, the Board is required to consist of one psychiatrist, one neurologist, one orthopedic surgeon, one ophthalmologist or optometrist, and one specialist in cardiovascular disease.  However, efforts to recruit physicians in certain specialties to serve on the Board have been unsuccessful.  This has often made it impossible for the Board to obtain quorum for decision making purposes.

     Your Committee finds that making the requirements to serve on the Board more general to include five physicians with an interest in psychiatry, neurology, orthopedics, ophthalmology or optometry, endocrinology, geriatrics, or addiction medicine will address this issue and will allow the Board to render fair decisions for individuals being medically reviewed in a more timely manner while maintaining safety for all roadway users.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2403 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair