STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2748

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2392

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2392 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for Imi Hoola student stipends or for other Imi Hoola student support programs at the discretion of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health of the John A. Burns School of Medicine.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Papa Ola Lokahi, ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka, The Queen's Health Systems, and twenty-seven 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.  The program has successfully equipped deserving local students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve success in the competitive field of medicine.  This measure helps to 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 notes that although the appropriation is blank, an appropriation of $300,000 will be necessary to support the Imi Hoola student stipends and other Imi Hoola student support programs.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2392 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair