STAND. COM. REP. 315

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: H.B. No. 1510

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 1510 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHIROPRACTIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to clarify the definition of chiropractic under the workers compensation and chiropractic laws.

More specifically, this bill:

(1) Limits reimbursement for workers compensation chiropractic treatment to such treatment of only the spinal column;

(2) Expands the scope of chiropractic practice; and

(3) Clarifies the usage of the term "doctor of chiropractic" and "chiropractic physician."

The Board of Chiropractic Examiners, Hawaii State Chiropractic Association, and Massage Therapists Association of Hawaii supported this bill. The Hawaii Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Hawaii Insurers Council, Hawaii Medical Association, and ILWU Local 142 testified in opposition to the measure. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs submitted comments.

It is your Committee's understanding that a similar bill was vetoed by the Governor last year. While taking no position on this bill, the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs did raise a number of issues, including the possibility of increased insurance costs.

Your Committee finds that many of the issues raised by the Insurance Division fall outside of the scope of your Committee's jurisdiction. However your Committee believes that this bill merits further discussion and respectfully requests the joint Committees of Consumer Protection and Commerce and Judiciary to evaluate the Division's concerns in more detail.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1510 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Consumer Protection and Commerce and Judiciary.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor and Public Employment,

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair