STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1177

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1477

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RURAL PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TRAINING,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve healthcare access for the people of Hawaii, especially in Hawaii's rural areas, by appropriating funds to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to:

 

     (1)  Develop a statewide rural primary healthcare

          training program to provide family physicians to rural

          areas and improve healthcare access for the people of

          Hawaii; and

 

     (2)  Support and expand the Family Medicine Residency Program of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health of JABSOM.

 

     The Mayor of the County of Hawaii, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hilo Medical Center, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and a concerned individual testified in support of this bill.  The University of Hawaii System supported the intent of this measure.

 

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2020, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1477, H.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair