STAND. COM. REP. NO.  44

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 593

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 593 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ATHLETIC TRAINERS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure the safety of athletes by implementing licensing provisions for athletic trainers.

 

     The Athletic Directors and Coaches Association testified in support of this bill.  The Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association (HATA) supported this measure with amendments.  The Hawaii Government Employees Association supported the intent of this bill.  The Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) offered comments.

 

     Your Committee notes that DOE and HATA both suggest that a board of athletic training similar to those of other licensed medical professions, rather than the director of DCCA, oversee the licensure of athletic trainers.  Your Committee believes that consideration of such an amendment is properly within the purview of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing all references to "directing physician" and "supervising physician" to "treating physician" to clarify that athletic trainers may work under the guidance of other physicians in the care of their patients, such as a student's primary care physician;

 

     (2)  Allowing athletic trainers to design and construct, as well as apply, protective products to prevent athletic injuries;

 

     (3)  Allowing an athletic trainer to provide counseling and guidance to prevent athletic injuries;

 

     (4)  Clarifying that athletic trainers may rehabilitate and recondition athletic injuries by administering therapeutic, as well as conditioning exercises, using standard techniques and procedures to facilitate recovery, function, and performance, including application of flexibility or range of motion exercises; and

 

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

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 593, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ROY TAKUMI, Chair