STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1074-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2276

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, 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, American Acupuncture Council, Kailua Acupuncture Clinic, OceanMed Clinic, Longevity Health Center, Makai Natural Medicine, AcuPlan Hawaii, and six individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the CHI Lifestyle Medical Center.

Your Committee finds that, because of expanded benefits under health insurance policies and Medicare, acupuncture is one of the fastest growing fields in American health care. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii's existing laws regulating the practice of acupuncture do not reflect the current state of acupuncture practice, particularly in the areas of national certification standards and expanded accredited educational programs. This measure amends Hawaii's laws regulating the practice of acupuncture to reflect modernized scopes of practice and licensing requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

(3) 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 S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, 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