STAND. COM. REP. NO.  80-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 1996

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1996 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to entice physicians to set up practice in health professional shortage areas of the state by establishing Health Enterprise Zones where physicians will be eligible for income tax exemptions and low interest loans for constructing a medical facility.

     The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Hawaii Medical Association supported this bill.  The Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii and a concerned individual supported the intent of this measure.  The Hawaii Primary Care Association supported this bill with amendments.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Taxation, Department of Health, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the effective date to January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

     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. 1996, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1996, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair