STAND. COM. REP. NO. 223
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 119
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 Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 119 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaiʻi Public Health Association, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and six individuals.
Your Committee finds that meeting the growing demand for skilled nursing professionals is critical to addressing health care shortages and ensuring the well-being of the State's communities. Your Committee further finds that expanding nursing education programs of the University of Hawaii System is essential to developing a robust workforce capable of meeting the needs of an aging population, addressing health care disparities in underserved areas, and responding to future public health challenges. This measure invests in the establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College to help increase the supply of nurse graduates, reduce the nursing workforce shortage, and allow Maui nursing students to remain on Maui during their entire course of study.
Your
Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing
each appropriation amount to an unspecified amount;
(2) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2050,
to encourage further
discussion; and
(3) Making
a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and
consistency.
(1) $100,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $60,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to meet the increased demand for prerequisite courses by students newly enrolled in the program;
(2) $90,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $60,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for additional personnel associated with the establishment of the program;
(3) $60,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, respectively, for supplies, equipment, and simulation and laboratory upgrades associated with the establishment of the program; and
(4) $250,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 for instructional costs associated with providing a third year of nursing courses following the establishment of the program.
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 S.B. No. 119, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 119, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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________________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair |
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