STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1489

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 324

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 324, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the definition of the practice of medicine to provide uniformity of practice for medical doctors and osteopathic doctors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board, Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, and Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i.

Your Committee finds that the definition of the practice of medicine was last amended in 2008 to add a separate, distinct definition of the practice of osteopathic medicine. However, your Committee notes that medical doctors and osteopathic doctors receive the same education and training and should be regulated equally. This measure updates the definition of the practice of medicine to bring parity with the current practice of medicine and provide uniformity for medical doctors and osteopathic doctors.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 324, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair