Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2712 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support the Na Lei Wili Area Health Education Center's "Grow Our Own Healers" program on Kauai and Oahu.

Testimony received in support of this measure was received from the Department of Health, Kauai Community College, Na Lei Wili Area Health Education Center, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, a public health nurse, a student member of the Health Occupations for Teens (HOT) Club, an advisor to the Dole Middle School Educational Medical Team (EMT) Health Club, a student member of the Dole Middle School EMT Health Club, a student member of the Farrington High School Health Club, and a student from Kaewai Elementary School.

Your Committee finds that the Grow Our Own Healers program, now in its seventh year of existence, aims to improve the health of the underserved using the Cycle of Aloha which involves students in middle school through graduate school in the learning process. Younger students are provided with educational and recruitment alternatives that will excite their minds and open them to the possibilities of health professional careers. Health professional students are educated in the diverse rural and underserved communities in order to better serve this population.

Your Committee has amended this measure by specifying that the appropriation is to be in the form of a grant under chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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 S.B. No. 2712, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2712, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.