STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1758

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 718

H.D. 1

S.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 Ways and Means, 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 moneys to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine for additional faculty and staff positions.

Specifically, this measure provides funding 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 written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency, University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Primary Care Association, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and two 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 support important biomedical research and advance JABSOM's mission to train highly qualified health care workers for the State and the Pacific region. Your Committee further finds that establishment of a health and safety officer position to maintain equipment will allow JABSOM to continue providing uninterrupted chiller plant‑cooling services and fulfilling reporting requirements.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 718, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 718, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair