STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1151

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 213

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, University of Hawaiʻi System, Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing, State Council on Mental Health, State Health Planning and Development Agency, one member of the Kauaʻi County Council, Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, Liberty Dialysis-Hawaiʻi, AlohaCare, Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaiʻi-American Nurses Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Dental Association, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that to address the State's persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry, the Legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, which assists health care professionals in the State in repaying their health care educational loans in exchange for medical service in the State. Your Committee further finds that while the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program has significantly benefited the eight hundred ninety residents who received loan repayment assistance, there are still large numbers of health care providers who have not yet received relief, including more than one thousand three hundred who are currently on the waitlist. By continuing funding for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, this measure promotes a reliable and adequate health care workforce by incentivizing health care providers to remain in the State.

Your Committee notes that this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $15,000,000 for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 213, H.D. 1, 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 Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair