STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1708

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2009

RE:   S.B. No. 169

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 2

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 169, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HAWAII HEALTH CORPS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to ensure access to health care in the state's rural, medically underserved areas by establishing:

     (1)  The Hawaii Health Corps Program; and

     (2)  A loan repayment program and an incentive plan for the recruitment of health care professionals to serve in shortage areas.

     The State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, Department of Budget and Finance, and AARP offered comments.

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

     (1)  Removing all provisions related to the loan repayment program;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

     (3)  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 S.B. No. 169, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 169, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair