STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2656

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3105

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3105 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the Governor to enter the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact to create a comprehensive process that complements the existing licensing authority of the Hawaii Medical Board and provide a streamlined process that allows a physician assistant to become licensed in multiple states, thereby enhancing the portability of a physician assistant license and ensuring the safety of patients.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the United States Department of Defense, Hawaii Medical Board, Disability and Communications Access Board, Hawaiʻi Academy of Physician Assistants, AlohaCare, and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the National Center for Interstate Compacts, Council of State Governments.

Your Committees find that the State faces ongoing staff shortages in the health care sector. This measure would provide a streamlined pathway for qualified physician assistants to obtain authorization to practice in the State, enhancing service delivery for patients in areas such as telemedicine, and enabling greater career mobility for practitioners in military families.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3105, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3105, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair