CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP

 

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO.125-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 2761

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH,"

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 bill is to improve the quality of oral health in the state and increase access to dental services. Specifically, this bill:

(1) Amends temporary dental licensing laws to encourage dentists to practice in safety net dental provider organizations, and in agencies or practices providing dental services to dental health professional shortage areas in the state;

(2) Provides that licensed dental hygienists hired by the Department of Health (DOH) are to provide comprehensive services to children in public school complexes; and

(3) Appropriates funds to be expended by DOH to implement the bill.

Your Committee on Conference finds that poor oral health among children and vulnerable adult populations is among the most widespread and pressing public health problems identified in Hawaii. This bill will provide needed dental services to those populations, and will especially benefit Hawaii's children, who have tooth decay rates that far exceed those documented on the United States mainland.

Your Committee on Conference notes that $500,000 has been designated from the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund in H.B. No. 1245, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1, to fund this measure, and has amended the bill by removing its appropriations, and making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.

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 H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2761, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ DAVID M. MATSUURA, Chair		____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Co-Chair
____________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Co-Chair		____________________________ BERTHA C. KAWAKAMI, Co-Chair

 

____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Co-Chair
____________________________ BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair