STAND. COM. REP. NO.  716

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

 

RE:   H.B. No. 229

      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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 229, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve healthcare in medically underserved areas of the state by establishing the Hawaii Health Corps Program (Program) to provide incentives for healthcare professionals to serve in areas of need.  Specifically, this bill, among other things:

 

     (1)  Provides for the identification of health professional shortage areas;

 

     (2)  Establishes annual award amounts for eligible healthcare professionals who undertake a specified service obligation in shortage areas of the state;

 

     (3)  Grants loan and scholarship awards for eligible student participants;

 

     (4)  Authorizes the receipt of funds from public and private sources into the Hawaii Health Corps Fund to support the Program; and

 

     (5)  Appropriates funds for the operations and staff of the Program.

 

     The Mayor of the County of Hawaii testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Health (DOH) and University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Placing the Program under JABSOM, rather than DOH;

 

     (2)  Changing the appropriation amounts to $1 to encourage further discussion;

 

     (3)  Changing the expending agency for the appropriation from DOH to JABSOM; and

 

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 229, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 229, H.D. 2.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair