CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 162

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

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. 162, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTRY LICENSES,"

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) Add community health centers, rural health clinics, and mobile dental outreach programs to the list of eligible organizations at which persons with community service licenses may practice dental hygiene;

(2) Allow dental hygiene and dental college graduates from educational programs that have a reciprocal agreement with the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation to apply for temporary or community service licenses; and

(3) Expand eligibility for a community service license to practice dentistry to those candidates who have passed the Integrated National Board Dental Examination within five years of the date of request.

Your Committee on Conference finds that there is a critical need to address the significant shortage of health care professionals in the State, including dentists and dental hygienists. Your Committee on Conference further finds that it is especially crucial to increase the number of public health dentists and dental hygienists who primarily treat the State's underserved and vulnerable populations, including Medicaid recipients. This measure will improve access to dental care for these populations and alleviate the State's oral health disparities.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 162, 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. 162, 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

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair