STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1306

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 674

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to adopt the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, The Queen's Health System, AlohaCare, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Kūpuna Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Medical Association, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Regulated Industries Complaints Office, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and Hawaii Association for Justice.

Your Committee 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. Your Committee further finds that adoption of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact will help address the State's severe health care provider shortage by expediting the licensure requirements for physicians licensed in other states and increasing the ability for physicians to practice across participating jurisdictions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language holding officers and employees of the Interstate Commission liable for any damage, loss, injury, or liability resulting from the officer's or employee's negligence or gross negligence;

(2) Authorizing rather than requiring the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt administrative rules to implement and administer the Interstate Medical License Compact;

(3) Authorizing the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct criminal history record checks on applicants seeking licensure under the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 674, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair