CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 179

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 674

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

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 measure is to:

(1) Adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;

(2) Allow the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact;

(3) Allow the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct criminal history record checks on applicants for physician licensure under the Compact; and

(4) Appropriate funds for the Hawaii Medical Board's implementation of the Compact.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the State faces a significant shortage in the number of health care professionals, especially in neighbor islands and rural areas. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact creates a comprehensive process that complements the existing licensing and regulatory authority of state medical boards and provides a streamlined process that allows physicians to become licensed in multiple states. This measure will increase access to health care for individuals in rural and medically underserved areas of the State and alleviate the State's health disparities by authorizing the Governor to enter into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact on behalf of the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that is not in the model Compact language, which would have excluded from the immunity granted to the Interstate Commission's officers and employees, suit or liability for damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by negligence or gross negligence of such person;

(2) Requiring, rather than allowing, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules for the purpose of implementing and administering the Compact;

(3) Deleting section 2 of the measure, which would have allowed the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct criminal history record checks on physician licensure applicants through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;

(4) Deleting section 3 of the measure, which would have appropriated funds out of the Compliance Resolution Fund for the Hawaii Medical Board's implementation of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact;

(5) Making it effective upon its approval; provided that section 1 of the measure, which adds a new chapter to the Hawaii Revised Statutes governing the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, shall take effect on January 1, 2025; and

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

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 S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ JACKSON D. SAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair
____________________________ JENNA TAKENOUCHI Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair