STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1160-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   S.B. No. 2341

      S.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2341, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect the health and safety of consumers in the state by making permanent the regulation of respiratory therapists under chapter 466D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Office of the Auditor, Hawaii COPD Coalition, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Kapiolani Community College Respiratory Therapy Program students, Hawaii Society for Respiratory Care, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  Several individuals commented on this measure.

     Your Committee notes that the State Auditor's Report No. 15-08, "Sunset Evaluation:  Respiratory Therapists," June 2015, finds that the regulation of respiratory therapists is reasonably necessary to protect the health and safety of consumers, and licensure is consistent with other health-related occupations, such as doctors and nurses.

     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. 2341, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair