Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 281, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to alleviate the shortage of nurses and nurse educators by establishing the Nursing Scholars Program to provide scholarships to individuals pursuing graduate nursing degrees.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Queen's Medical Center, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill. The University of Hawaii supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee has amended this bill by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 281, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 281, H.D. 2.