STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1149-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2392

S.D. 1

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 Lower & Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to provide stipends to students enrolled in the Imi Hoola Post‑baccalaureate Program and, at the discretion of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health of the John A. Burns School of Medicine, support the existing programs within the Imi Hoola Post‑baccalaureate Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Filipinos for Affirmative Action, Hawaii Public Health Association, The Queen's Health Systems, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Imi Hoola Program is a proven diversity pipeline program that provides educational opportunities to disadvantaged students pursuing careers in medicine and has successfully equipped deserving local students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve success in the competitive field of medicine. This measure will address the physician workforce shortage in Hawaii by increasing the number of local physicians through a program that enhances students' academic and professional readiness for medical school.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2051; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Lower & Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2392, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair