Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 238 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to address the severe shortage of medical services in medically underserved areas of the state by establishing a tax credit to repay student loans for physicians practicing in medically underserved areas.

The Hawaii Medical Association and several concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Taxation provided comments.

Your Committee finds that this measure is necessary to encourage more promising individuals to pursue a career in the medical profession to address and rectify the shortage of doctors in medically underserved areas particularly in the rural areas of the state. Your Committee hopes to increase the number of medical professionals available to underserved areas, and to provide services in shortage specialties.

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. 238 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.