STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2047

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 192

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 192 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO ESTABLISH A VETERINARY MEDICINE EXPANSION WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM AT WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the University of Hawaii System to establish a Veterinary Medicine Expansion Working Group to explore the feasibility of developing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at Windward Community College.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society. Your Committee received comments on this measure from University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing a critical shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural areas and for large animal and agricultural veterinary services. The lack of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program drives aspiring veterinarians to seek education outside of the State, which can increase financial burdens and reduce the likelihood that a newly licensed veterinarian will return to the State to practice. Your Committee believes that establishing a working group to explore the feasibility of developing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine pathway will help address Hawaii's veterinary workforce shortages.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Broadening the scope of the Veterinary Medicine Expansion Working Group's directive to the entire University of Hawaii System, rather than to only Windward Community College;

(2) Requesting the following to serve as members of the Working Group:

(A) The President of the University of Hawaii, or the President's designee, who is further requested to serve as the chairperson of the Working Group; and

(B) The Chancellor of University of Hawaii at Hilo, or the Chancellor's designee;

(3) Directing a certified copy of this measure to the Chancellor of the University of Hawaii at Hilo;

(4) Deleting certain findings relating to the expansion of Windward Community College's existing Veterinary Technology program to include a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine pathway;

(5) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 192, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 192, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair