STAND. COM. REP. NO. 753

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 162

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 162, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Board of Dentistry to issue without examination:

(1) A community service license to practice dental hygiene in the employment of a community health center and allow eligible candidates to submit as documentation and credentials, diplomas and certificates of graduation from a dental hygiene college or dental college that has a reciprocal agreement with the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, recognized and approved by the Board;

(2) A community service license to practice dentistry in the employment of a community health center and allow eligible candidates to submit as documentation and credentials, diplomas and certificates of graduation from a dental hygiene college or dental college that has a reciprocal agreement with the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, recognized and approved by the Board, and certificates or other evidence satisfactory to the Board of having passed the Integrated National Board Dental Examination; and

(3) A temporary license to practice dentistry exclusively under the auspices of a dental residency program, to graduates from a dental college that has a reciprocal agreement with the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, recognized and approved by the Board.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Dental Association, Hawaii Dental Hygienists' Association, Hawaii Dental Service, Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition, Waikiki Health, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Board of Dentistry, and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of medical professionals in the State, including dentists. Public health dentists and dental hygienists are often the primary providers for Hawaii's medically underserved areas. Improving the shortage in health care workers requires a multipronged strategy that includes addressing the State's regulatory scheme for health care professionals by easing the regulatory burdens and cost associated with becoming a licensed health care professional in the State. This measure addresses the oral health care professional shortfall to help support the most underserved and vulnerable populations, including Medicaid recipients and improve access to care.

Your Committee acknowledges testimony noting that the provision requiring a community dental license applicant to submit a certificate demonstrating the applicant passed the Integrated National Board Dental Examination should also apply to applicants for standard dentist licenses.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a provision allowing an applicant for a dentist license to submit a certificate or other evidence satisfactory to the Board of Dentistry that the applicant passed the Integrated National Board Dental Examination; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 162, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 162, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair