STAND. COM. REP. NO.  988-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2519

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2519, H.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to provide incentives for health care professionals to work in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) by:

     (1)  Establishing the Hawaii Health Corps that will provide loan repayment and stipends for physicians and dentists who agree to work in HPSAs and as first responders during civil defense and other emergencies; and

     (2)  Allowing business firms that provide medical and health care services in an enterprise zone to be eligible for tax benefits under the State's Enterprise Zone program if the business is located within an HPSA.

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Taxation, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, University of Hawaii,

Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Board of Medical Examiners, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and Hawaii Medical Association submitted comments.

     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. 2519, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair