STAND. COM. REP. NO. 152-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1977

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. 1977 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow dental assistants to perform limited, essential duties under the general supervision of a dentist in public health settings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Dental Association, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, Hawaii Dental Service, Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, AlohaCare, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Board of Dentistry.

Your Committee finds that the State lacks adequate and accessible dental public health infrastructure, particularly on the neighbor islands. Your Committee further finds that although dental hygienists may practice under general supervision of a dentist in public health settings, dental assistants are prohibited from providing auxiliary support except under direct supervision by a dentist. This measure expands providers' ability to offer adequate and accessible oral health services by permitting dental assistants to provide limited, essential duties under general, rather than direct, supervision of a licensed dentist in public health settings.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the preamble other than the narrow purpose statement of this measure;

(2) Clarifying that dental assistants, licensed dental assistants, and licensed dentists must be providing dental services in a public health setting, rather than being employed in a public health setting;

(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. 1977, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1977, 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