STAND. COM. REP. NO. 661

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 678

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 678 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to

(1) Establish a residency program, including stipend and loan repayment plans, at the University of Hawaii Center for Nursing to assist newly-graduated advanced practice registered nurses transition into clinical practice;

(2) Appropriate funds for the advanced practice registered nurse residency program; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine advanced practice registered nurse residency loan repayment program.

For the purpose of a public hearing on this measure, your Committee circulated a proposed H.B. No. 678, H.D. 1, (Proposed Draft) and notified the public that it would be accepting testimony on this proposal which:

(1) Mandates reporting of diagnostic audiologic evaluation results on newborns to improve hearing follow-ups of infants; and

(2) Updates related definitions and terminology.

The Department of Health, Disability and Communications Access Board, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and two individuals testified in support of this measure.

After careful consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the language contained in the Proposed Draft. Your Committee further amended the Proposed Draft by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

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 H.B. No. 678, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 678, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair