STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1206

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 718

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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 718, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO POSITIONS AT THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine for:

(1) Faculty positions in the fields of cardiovascular biology, tropical medicine, and quantitative health biostatistics; and

(2) An environmental health and safety officer staff position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, Hawaii Primary Care Association, and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that establishing additional faculty positions in the fields of cardiovascular biology, tropical medicine, and quantitative health biostatistics at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) will advance JABSOM's mission to teach and train high-quality physicians, biomedical scientists, and allied health workers for the State and Pacific. Additionally, these positions will strengthen JABSOM's biomedical and health disparities translational "bench to bedside" research strategy. Your Committee additionally finds that JABSOM must currently contract a chiller plant-cooling system servicer to ensure that operations and emergency services remain available, therefore the establishment of a health and safety officer position to maintain equipment will allow JABSOM to continue providing emergency services.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 718, 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 Higher Education,

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair