STAND. COM. REP. NO.  201-16

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1899

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1899 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 the practice of midwifery care by establishing licensure requirements, continuing education requirements, and minimum training standards.

 

     The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaii Women’s Coalition, Mercy in Action, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Hawaii Medical Association, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaii Section, and numerous individuals opposed this measure.  The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA); Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO); Midwives Alliance of Hawaii; American Association of University Women, Hawaii; Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii; and numerous individuals commented on this measure.

 

     Noting concerns that this measure lacks enforcement provisions commonly found in professional and vocational licensing regulations, your Committee has requested DCCA’s Professional and Vocational Licensing Division and RICO to provide information regarding enforcement procedures of other states related to regulating the practice of midwifery, including provisions for reporting disciplinary action and for enforcing unlicensed activity.

 

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Clarifying that the purpose is to regulate certified professional midwives who practice midwifery care;

 

(2)  Deleting all references to traditional birth attendant or traditional midwife;

 

(3)  Deleting the traditional birth attendant as a member of the advisory committee;

 

(4)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2070, to encourage further discussion; 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 Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1899, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1899, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair