STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1084-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2280

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. 2280, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Board of Dentistry, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition, AlohaCare, and Hawaii Dental Association.

Your Committee finds that the State lacks adequate and accessible dental public health infrastructure, particularly on the neighbor islands. Your Committee further finds that dental assistants could help improve access to dental health care across the State. However, existing law prohibits dental assistants from providing auxiliary support except under the direct supervision of a dentist, which hinders the sustainability and viability of dental care programs in public health settings. This measure addresses capacity issues in dental public health infrastructure by permitting dental assistants to provide limited, but essential, auxiliary support under general supervision while in public health settings.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2280, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2280, 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