CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 62-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2798

S.D. 1

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. 2798, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE,"

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:

(1) Authorize the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine to grant temporary courtesy and relief permits for out-of-state veterinarians;

(2) Permit licensed veterinarians to practice veterinarian telemedicine;

(3) Create a permit surcharge; and

(4) Allow for international veterinary school graduates to qualify for the licensure examination.

Your Committee on Conference finds that Hawaii faces a shortage of experienced and licensed veterinarians. Allowing more veterinarians licensed in other jurisdictions to practice in the State on a temporary basis as needed would help alleviate the shortage. This measure authorizes the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine to grant temporary and relief permits, permit licensed veterinarians to practice veterinarian telemedicine, and allow international veterinary school graduate to qualify for the licensure examination in Hawaii.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Repealing the requirement that examinations be given by the Board twice each year;

(2) Establishing a temporary permit to be issued under certain conditions; and

(3) Making it effective upon its approval; provided that the provisions creating courtesy and relief permits in section 1 of this measure shall be effective on July 1, 2024.

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. 2798, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2798, S.D. 1, 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

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ AARON LING JOHANSON Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Co-Chair