CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 18-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2799

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2799, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPERVISION OF LICENSED DENTAL HYGIENISTS IN A PUBLIC HEALTH SETTING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to clarify the scope of practice for licensed dental hygienists practicing in a public health setting.

Your Committee on Conference finds that oral health is a critical component of a person's general health and well-being. Poor oral health can adversely affect a person's overall health and negatively impact a person's ability to eat, speak, learn, work, and communicate. Improving oral health in the State involves many key strategies, including preventative dental care, which emphasizes the importance of ongoing hygiene procedures and daily practices to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases and conditions.

Your Committee on Conference further finds that this measure increases accessibility of preventative dental care by expanding the public health settings in which dental hygienists may provide care and broadening the services that can be performed by licensed dental hygienists in public health settings, while also holding the supervising licensed dentist responsible for procedures performed by the dental hygienist. This measure therefore reduces barriers to oral health care and supports and promotes expanded access to dental services for underserved and vulnerable populations in public health settings.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2018.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2799, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2799, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair
____________________________ TAKASHI OHNO Co-Chair
____________________________ BERTRAND KOBAYASHI Co-Chair