STAND. COM. REP. NO.  551-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1899

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1899, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSURE OF CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIVES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to regulate certified professional midwives who practice midwifery care.

 

     The Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, HanaNaia LLC, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and numerous individuals testified in opposition to this measure.  The Regulated Industries Complaints Office of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Ho'opae Pono Peace Project, and a few individuals provided comments on this measure.

 

     Your Committee notes that there is still an ongoing heated discussion concerning the regulation as well as the scope of practice of midwives and that the last study conducted by the Auditor to determine whether licensure would be necessary for the practice of midwifery was completed 17 years ago.


 

     Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting the statutory authority to regulate certified professional midwives and instead requiring the Auditor to study whether licensure for certified professional midwives who practice midwifery care is warranted; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee notes that during the public hearing, there was discussion on whether it would be appropriate to adopt Oregon's regulations on the practice of midwifery.  Should the Committee on Judiciary deliberate further on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider using Oregon's regulations as a model for midwifery regulation.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1899, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1899, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair