STAND. COM. REP. NO.  579

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 563

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 563 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HYGIENISTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize licensed dental hygienists to practice under the general, rather than direct, supervision of a licensed dentist.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Lanai Community Health Center, American Dental Hygienists' Association, and numerous individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from an individual.  The Board of Dental Examiners, Hawaii Dental Association, and an individual submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that licensed dental hygienists may practice under the general supervision of a licensed dentist only with respect to patients of record who have been examined by the licensed dentist and have an existing treatment plan in place, but may not administer intra-oral block anesthesia or perform irreversible procedures under general supervision;

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2090, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purpose of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 563, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 563, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Intrastate Commerce,

____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO, Chair

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair