STAND. COM. REP. NO. 179

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 426

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 426 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DENTISTRY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to modify dental licensing laws to allow dentists participating in an accredited, multi-year dental residency program to obtain temporary licensure for the duration of their training. 

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Dental Examiners, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kokua Kalihi Valley, Lanai Women's Center dba Lanai Community Health Center, and Lutheran Medical Center.  Copies of written testimony are available for review on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is both universal support and a critical need for this measure.  The need for accessible dental services in Hawaii, especially for children who receive Medicaid, is enormous. 

 

Hawaii has some of the worst dental statistics in the nation in terms of dental diseases and unmet treatment needs.  On most neighbor islands, it is prohibitively difficult to access dental care at all.  This measure would help address current problems by creating a well-trained dental workforce, supporting recruitment and retention of dentists to work in the community, and spurring development of facilities to address the State's dental health needs. 

 

     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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 426 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair