STAND. COM. REP. NO. 604

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 324
                                     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 H.B. No. 324
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 (SLH) 1997, authorizing dental hygienists to administer
intra-oral block anesthesia, by establishing:

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

     (2)  Documentation required for dental board certification
          of a hygienist to administer these types of anesthesia.

     The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii
Dental Hygienists' Association, the Hawaii Dental Association,
the Hawaii Institute for Wellness in Dentistry, and many
individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  Many
individuals submitted testimony in opposition of this measure.
The Board of Dental Examiners (Board) and several individuals
submitted comments.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 604
                                 Page 2

 

     Your Committee finds that since the enactment of Act 9, SLH
1997, administrative rules have not been established by the Board
to implement the law.  Although the rule's promulgation process
has commenced, it is anticipated that, subject to no substantive
changes, the official adoption will be in another year.
Therefore, your Committee has amended this bill by sunsetting
this measure on June 30, 2000, to:

     (1)  Give the Board enough time to officially adopt
          administrative rules; and

     (2)  Restore rulemaking authority to the Board on this
          subject matter.

     In the interest of consumer protection and safety, your
Committee raised the question as to the criteria for proficiency.
Your Committee respectfully requests the Committee on Consumer
Protection and Commerce to examine the sufficiency of the
proposed educational requirements.

     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 H.B. No.
324, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 324, 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