S.R. NO. 139 Summary

• Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is requested to convene a working group to propose regulations and licensing requirements for health educators.

• Working group should include representatives from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Pacific University, The Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, and other appropriate organizations.

• Health educator field is expected to grow 37 percent by 2020, with over 63,000 jobs in the United States, creating need for government regulation to ensure professional competency and quality care standards.

• Regulation would ensure recipients receive quality health education services at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care and establish minimum competency requirements comparable to other health care professionals.

• Working group must report findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2014 Regular Session.