STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2431

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2058

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2058 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII HEALTH CORPS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation for the implementation and administration of the Hawaii Health Corps loan repayment program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and several individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Health Corps loan repayment program will assist health care providers to pay back their student loans in exchange for their commitment to work in a health profession shortage area in Hawaii for two years.  Your Committee further finds that by working in underserved areas, these health care providers make a difference in communities where they are needed the most.  By supporting the loan repayment program, this measure improves the chance that new health care providers will practice, and continue to practice, in Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Inserting a blank appropriation amount; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     Your Committee notes that the initial appropriation amount was $1,000,000.  Your Committee further notes that any appropriated monies will receive matching funds from the federal government.

     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 S.B. No. 2058, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2058, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair