STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3244

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 15

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Taxation, to which was referred S.R. No. 15 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON IMPLEMENTING THE TAX INCENTIVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAUI HEALTH INITIATIVE TASK FORCE TO ENCOURAGE THE FORMATION OF AN ADEQUATE MEDICAL SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE TO CARE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF MAUI,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Taxation to study the impacts of implementing the tax incentive recommendations put forth by the Maui Health Initiative Task Force.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

     Your Committees find that the Maui Health Initiative Task Force, created by Act 219, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, was tasked with determining the current and future health care needs of Maui County.  In its final report that was submitted to the Legislature, the task force recommended the implementation of several state tax credits that would serve as incentives for health care providers to work in Maui County and for the development of electronic medical records services.  Your Committees further find that this measure is necessary to study the impacts of implementing these tax credits and to propose legislation for the next legislative session.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Economic Development and Taxation that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 15 and recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Economic Development and Taxation,

____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA, Chair

____________________________ DAVID Y. IGE, Chair