STAND. COM. REP. NO. 732

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1404

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1404, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Extends the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program to include certain advance practice registered nurses, registered nurses, and licensed social workers; and

(2) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Health for the health care provider loan repayment program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, the University of Hawaii, the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, the East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, East Hawaii Independent Physicians Association, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hilo Medical Center, Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Lanai Community Health Center, The Queen's Health Systems, TEAMHealth Hospital Medicine, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that extending the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program should attract more health care providers to rural areas of the State that are experiencing a shortage of these providers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation from $350,000 to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1404, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1404, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair