STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1337

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: S.B. No. 779
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No.
779, S.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTAL HYGIENISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to implement Act 9, Session Laws
of Hawaii 1997, authorizing dental hygienists to administer
intra-oral block anesthesia, by:

     (1)  Educational requirements for the administration of
          infiltration local anesthesia and intra-oral block
          anesthesia; and

     (2)  Documentation to the board of certification in the
          administration of these procedures.

     The Hawaii Dental Association (HDA) and many individuals
testified in support of this measure.  Many individuals testified
in opposition to this measure.  The Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs (DCCA), the Hawaii Dental Hygienists'
Association (HDHA), and the Board of Dental Examiners (Board)
commented on this measure.

     There was a great deal of debate about limiting the
administration of anesthesia only to services within the scope of
clinical dental hygiene.  Proponents of this recommendation
testified that this would safeguard against children and the

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1337
                                 Page 2

 
elderly.  Although the House Committee on Consumer Protection and
Commerce (CPC) has already deemed that, based on Section 447-
3(b), Hawaii Revised Statutes, limiting administration of
anesthesia only to the practice of dental hygiene is "unduly
restrictive", your Committee respectfully requests CPC to re-
examine this issue and determine, in the context of protecting
children and the elderly, if this suggestion is warranted.

     Your Committee further requests CPC to review the
legislative history of authorizing dental hygienists to
administer intra-oral block anesthesia to determine if this and
other issues have been adequately deliberated.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by deleting its
substance and replacing it with language from H.B. No. 324, H.D.
2, because this language:

     (1)  Repeals the Act upon adoption of rules by the Board;
          and

     (2)  Was reviewed and supported by HDA, DCCA, and HDHA.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
779, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass
Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 779, S.D.
2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer
Protection and Commerce.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair