STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1230

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   S.B. No. 141

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 141, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICIAN WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to support physician workforce assessment and planning to assist the strategic recruitment and retention of physicians for rural and medically underserved areas in Hawaii by allowing the John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii to continue to receive a portion of the physician workforce assessment fee until June 30, 2022.

The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Board, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians, Hawaii Medical Association, East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Pacific Health, Lāna‘i Community Health Center, The Queen's Health Systems, American Organization of Nurse Executives Hawaii, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, Maui County Area Health Education Center, and many individuals supported this measure.

     Your Committee notes that five years is not enough time to evaluate the efficacy of the physician workforce assessment fee and finds that in ten years, the physician workforce should reach its critical mass.  Your Committee has accordingly amended this measure by extending the sunset date to allow the John A. Burns School of Medicine of the University of Hawaii to continue to receive a portion of the physician workforce assessment fee to June 30, 2027.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 141, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 141, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair