STAND. COM. REP. NO.  639

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.B. No. 212

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor & Public Employment, to which was referred H.B. No. 212, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve the quality of health care for all of Hawaii's residents by requiring the Department of Health to develop and maintain a secure statewide comprehensive health care workforce map and database on the supply, demand, and distribution of health care workers in Hawaii.

     The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Services Association, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.

     Hawaii is currently experiencing a shortage of health care workers, particularly on the Neighbor Islands.  Your Committee finds that the development of a map and database to identify areas of need for health care workers is an important step in solving this public health problem.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor & Public Employment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 212, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Labor & Public Employment,

____________________________

ALEX M. SONSON, Chair