STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3668

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 65

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 65, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO PERFORM A SUNRISE ANALYSIS OF THE REGULATION OF CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL MIDWIVES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to perform a sunrise analysis of the regulation of Certified Professional Midwives.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section; Midwives Alliance of Hawaii; Kona Birth and Midwifery Services; and nine individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

 

     Your Committee finds that Certified Professional Midwives are knowledgeable, skilled, and professional independent midwifery practitioners who have met the standards for certification set by the North American Registry of Midwives.  Although Certified Professional Midwives are regulated and authorized to practice in thirty states, they are not subject to regulation in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that it has been seventeen years since the last sunrise analysis was conducted by the Auditor, and an updated study of the regulation of this profession is therefore needed.

 

     Your Committee additionally finds that this measure requests the Auditor to conduct a sunrise analysis on the regulation of Certified Professional Midwives, as proposed by House Bill No. 1899, H.D. 1, Regular Session of 2016.  The Auditor's analysis would set forth the probable effects of the proposed regulatory measure, assess whether its enactment is consistent with section 26H-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and assess alternative forms of regulation.  Your Committee notes that a sunrise analysis is the necessary next step to determine whether regulation in Hawaii of Certified Professional Midwives is warranted.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 65, H.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair