STAND. COM. REP. NO. 189-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1679

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1679 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make comprehensive updates to the statutory provisions regarding acupuncture practitioners to reflect modernized scopes of practice and licensing requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Acupuncture, Hawaii Acupuncture Association, Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Acuplan Hawaii, Longevity Health Center, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Acupuncture and Herbs from China LLC, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the statutory provisions regarding acupuncturists have not been updated in over twenty years, despite the growing demand for acupuncturists, changes to standards for national certifications, and expanded accredited educational programs, which now include master's and doctoral level degrees.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the date for initial licensure applications and legacy status licenses to begin on July 1, 2023, in order to give the Board of Acupuncture and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs appropriate time;

(2) Changing references from "acupuncture medicine physician" to "acupuncture medicine doctor";

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1679, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1679, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair