STAND. COM. REP. NO. 813

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1312

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1312, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE LICENSURE OF MIDWIVES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a Board of Midwifery and to require certified midwives and certified professional midwives to be licensed by the board in order to practice midwifery.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies; Midwives Alliance of Hawaii; Kona Birth and Midwifery Services; Hawaii Affiliate of the ACNM; Breastfeeding Hawaii; and fourteen individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from The Queen's Health System; Hoopae Pono Peace Project; ACOG Hawaii Section; First Women's Council, LLC; Sacred Healing Arts; and ninety-six individuals.

     Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Auditor; the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; the Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children; Hawaii Holistic Midwifery; and five individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the regulation of the midwifery profession is important to ensure that all persons who receive maternity and women's health services are provided safe and competent care.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Correcting the reference to "Midwifery Education and Accreditation Council" by changing it to "Midwifery Education Accreditation Council;"

(2)  Clarifying that the type of council that is convened pursuant to section 453-2(c), Hawaii Revised Statutes, is a "kupuna council";

(3)  Changing the licensing fee amount to an unspecified amount in order to encourage further discussion; and

(4)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments to correct a spelling error and for the purpose of clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1312, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1312, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair