STAND. COM. REP. NO. 631

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 262

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 262 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to support and expand physician residency training programs in the State's teaching hospitals, subject to dollar-for-dollar matching funds from private funding sources.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Medical Association, and Hawai‘i Primary Care Association. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committees find that there is a growing shortage of qualified physicians in the State. Despite this shortage, many graduates of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine are forced to leave the State due to a lack of residency training programs. Because physicians are more likely than not to remain and practice in their residency locale, expanding medical residency programs in the State is critical to the retention of physicians. Therefore, to address the State's physician shortage, this measure appropriates funds to support and expand physician residency training programs in the State's teaching hospitals.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 262 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Higher Education and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair