STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2778

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2657

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2657, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the State's shortage of health care providers by providing moneys to support medical education and training in Hawaii.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Reestablishes the Hawaii medical education special fund to enable the John A. Burns School of Medicine, in consultation with the Hawaii Medical Education Council, to provide funding for medical education and training in Hawaii;

(2) Appropriates moneys to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to expand medical education and training in Hawaii, with an emphasis on supporting residency training on the neighbor islands and in medically underserved areas throughout the State; and

(3) Appropriates moneys to the John A. Burns School of Medicine to create further medical residency and training opportunities through a partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Queen's Health Systems, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that, according to the John A. Burns School of Medicine, eighty percent of graduates who complete medical school and residency training in Hawaii remain in the State to practice medicine. The moneys appropriated by this measure will help address the State's physician shortage, especially in medically underserved areas, by supporting a partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and creating residency and training programs on the neighbor islands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive changes for 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. 2657, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2657, 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