STAND. COM. REP. NO. 505

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1565

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1565 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Brandon Flewelling, L.Ac; Academy of Integrated Medicine Hawaii; Kailua Acupuncture Clinic; Needles of Hope Inc.; Acupuncturists of Hawaii; Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Acupuncture & Wellness Center, LLC; and thirty individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Acupuncture.

Your Committee finds that acupuncture is becoming more recognized in the health care, scientific, and public communities as an effective form of health care for many different ailments and has become a mainstream modality that plays a vital role in modern health care. Your Committee further finds that as research around holistic and integrative medicine expands, it is imperative that the State's regulations keep pace with these developments. This measure modernizes statutory language to align with current professional standards and activities provided by licensed acupuncturists.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1565 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair