STAND. COM. REP. NO. 840-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2254

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2254, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Department of Health to fund the Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program administered through the John A. Burns School of Medicine, to provide loan repayment for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, nurse practitioners, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and nurses who agree to work in a federally-designated health professional shortage area or in a geographic area of Hawaii found to be underserved.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific Health, Lanai Community Health Center, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii-American Nurses Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Area Health Education Center, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Public Health Association, and fifteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2254, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair