STAND. COM. REP. NO. 632

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 155

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 155, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to protect the public health and safety by establishing registration requirements and qualifications for athletic trainers.

 

     This measure also provides exemptions from registration and prescribes penalties for violations.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Ann Frost, President, Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association; Avis Sakata, President, Occupational Therapy Association of Hawaii; and Cindy Clivio and Darryl Funai, Hawaii Athletic Trainers' Association.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Celia Suzuki, Acting Licensing Administrator, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing Division; and Jo Ann Uchida, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Regulated Industries Complaints Office.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii is one of only a few states that do not regulate the practice of athletic training.  Regulation of athletic trainers will ensure that participants in athletic activities receive appropriate emergency care and follow-up treatment, require athletic trainers to demonstrate minimum competency in the field, and provide a means for the reporting of violations to the regulatory agency and imposition of penalties.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the registration exemption for those invited to provide athletic training services for special events applies when the needs of the event exceed the capacity of athletic trainer registrants rather than "state licensees";

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on this measure; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 155, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 155, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair