STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1435-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2276

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, 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; Rubin Enterprises, LLC; AcuPlan Hawaii; Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Longevity Health Center; American Acupuncture Council; Pain Free Kauai; OceanMed Integrative Health Center; Kailua Acupuncture Clinic; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, Hawaii Medical Association, Lifestyle Medical Center, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that acupuncture is one of the fastest growing fields in American health care, leading to a growing demand for acupuncturists. Your Committee further finds that a number of Hawaii's existing laws regulating the practice of acupuncture have not been updated in over twenty years and 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) Clarifying language that declares the necessity for regulation and control of acupuncture medicine to state that the practice of acupuncture medicine requires regulation and control as an essential service for public health, safety, and welfare; and

(2) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2276, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair