STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1537

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 59

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.R. No. 59 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE TO STUDY THE IMPACT AND FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN WEST HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to study the impact and feasibility of creating a teaching hospital in West Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai‘i. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii faces a growing shortage of physicians who can provide direct care to patients. Additionally, the County of Hawaii has a large and medically underserved rural community. Your Committee further finds that a teaching hospital on Hawaii island may help to attract and retain a high-quality, diverse physician workforce to the State and provide a broader and more complete network of care for individuals in the community. Therefore, because of the potential benefits of a teaching hospital on Hawaii island, it is important to investigate the feasibility and impact that establishing a teaching hospital may have on the Hawaii island community and the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language that requests the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to collaborate with the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to conduct the study on the impact and feasibility of creating a teaching hospital in West Hawaii;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 59, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 59, S.D. 1.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair