STAND. COM. REP. NO. 825

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1365

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1365 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Hawaii Medical Board as the State of Principal License to investigate and request criminal history records of qualified physicians seeking licensing through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawaii Medical Board, The Queen's Health Systems, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Medical Association.

Your Committees find that the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (Compact), enacted by Act 112, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, was intended to safely streamline the licensing process for physicians seeking to practice in multiple states, including Hawaii. The Compact plays an important role as part of the statewide strategy to address the current health care workforce shortage in the State. Among other things, the Compact makes it possible to extend the reach of physicians, improve access to medical specialists, and leverage the use of medical technologies, such as telemedicine.

Your Committees further find that partial implementation of the Compact went into effect in Hawaii on January 1, 2025. To fully participate in the Compact, however, authorization to conduct criminal history record checks as part of the licensing process is required. These background checks are a standard component of physician licensing nationwide and serve as a safeguard to protect patients and uphold the integrity of the medical system. Without this authority, the Hawaii Medical Board risks being able to issue licenses under the Compact, limiting the benefits sought by joining this national effort. Accordingly, this measure seeks to fully implement the Compact by allowing the Hawaii Medical Board, under the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to conduct criminal background checks as part of its applicant screening process under the Compact to ensure that licenses are only issued to qualified, safe, and competent physicians, thereby ensuring that the benefits of entering the Compact can be fully realized in the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1365 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means,

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair