STAND. COM. REP. NO. 490

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 319

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 319 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL LICENSURE INTERSTATE COMPACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to adopt the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Association of Health Plans. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii and Hawaii Association for Justice.

Your Committee finds that there is a shortage of health care service providers in the State, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Despite this shortage, the State does not recognize out-of-state licenses, including those of emergency medical services personnel, requiring out-of-state licensees to undergo an often redundant application process that delays qualified personnel from providing services. To eliminate this redundancy and increase access to emergency medical services, this measure adopts the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact. However, your Committee notes concerns raised by the Hawaii Medical Board that this measure, as currently written, may conflict with state law, lacks clarity regarding scope of practice for emergency medical services personnel, and may not be financially feasible. Amendments to this measure are therefore necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting its contents and inserting language that:

(A) Establishes a working group to study the feasibility and effects of the State adopting the Recognition of Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact;

(B) Designates the membership composition of the working group; and

(C) Requires the working group to submit a report to the Legislature;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 319, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 319, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair