CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 225-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2280

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2280, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

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 on Conference finds that the State lacks adequate and accessible dental public health infrastructure, especially on the neighbor islands. Your Committee on Conference further finds that dental assistants could play an important role in improving access to dental health care across the State. Although the Hawaii Dental Practice Act allows dental hygienists to practice under the general supervision of a dentist in public health settings, dental assistants are prohibited from providing auxiliary support, except under direct supervision. This measure allows dental assistants to provide limited, but essential, auxiliary support under general supervision while in public health settings, which would contribute to the development and sustainable implementation of community-based dental disease prevention programs.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by changing the effective date to upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2280, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2280, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Chair
____________________________ LISA KITAGAWA Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair
____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM Co-Chair