STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1350

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 136
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which
was referred S.C.R. No. 136 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO
     CONDUCT A STUDY ASSESSING THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL IMPACT OF
     INCLUDING NATUROPATHIC COVERAGE IN THE PERSONAL INJURY
     PROTECTION BENEFITS OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE LAW,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request that the
Legislative Auditor conduct a study assessing the impact of
including coverage for naturopathic services in personal injury
protection (PIP) benefits under the motor vehicle insurance law.

     The Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians and three
individuals submitted testimony in support of the measure.  The
State Insurance Commissioner, State Farm Insurance and an
individual submitted testimony in opposition to the measure.  

     Your Committee finds that one in three Americans already use
some form of alternative medicine.  However, naturopathic 
services were omitted from the mandatory personal injury
protection benefits of the Motor Vehicle Insurance Reform Act of
1997.  Due to the increased demand for naturopathic care, a study
into the impact of including naturopathic services in personal
injury protection benefits would provide the Legislature with
current information in order to make sound policy decisions.


 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1350
                                   Page 2


     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to
this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose
of S.C.R. No. 136, and recommends that it be referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Commerce and
                                   Consumer Protection,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN KANNO, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Co-Chair

 
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