STAND. COM. REP. NO. 320

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 353

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 353 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the expansion of the certified nurse aide to practical nurse bridge program at the University of Hawaii Maui College, including funding for instructional costs and student aid.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Hawai‘i State Center for Nursing, The Queen's Health System, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Ohana Pacific Health, Legacy Hilo Rehab & Nursing, Hale Makua Health Services, Pu‘uwai ‘O Makaha, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i, and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that the certified nurse aide to practical nurse bridge program partners with Hale Makua, Ohana Pacific Health, and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and provides eligible Maui and Oahu health care professionals with the opportunity to become licensed practical nurses while they are working. This measure would provide the University of Hawaii Maui College the ability to expand the program and increase the pool of participants.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts; and

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $130,000 for instructional costs and $200,000 for student aid to program participants.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 353, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 353, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair