STAND. COM. REP. NO. 964

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1330

       H.D. 1

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Education and Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1330, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOBACCO SETTLEMENT SPECIAL FUND,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Extend the appropriation of a portion of Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund monies for the annual operating expenses of the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) until June 30, 2015; and

 

     (2)  Require JABSOM to report to the Legislature annually until the convening of the Regular Session of 2015.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from JABSOM, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii Medical Service Association, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and two JABSOM medical students.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the American Heart Association and American Cancer Society.

 

     Your Committees find that JABSOM's authorization to use a portion of Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund monies for annual operating expenses to support the school's operations and train and graduate new physicians is set to expire on June 30, 2011.  This measure will allow continued use of Tobacco Settlement Special Fund monies by JABSOM for annual operating expenses.

 

     Your Committees recognize the concerns raised by certain testifiers about JABSOM's continued use of Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund monies specifically for operating costs. Your Committees request that JABSOM develop five- and ten-year plans to work towards greater self-sufficiency and implement revenue generating practices that will allow JABSOM to become less reliant on Tobacco Settlement monies for its annual operating costs.

 

     Your Committees also recognize the role that the University of Hawaii at Manoa has to play in supporting the continued operation and growth of JABSOM and request a response on how the University will support JABSOM should Tobacco Settlement monies become unavailable.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by deleting the contents of this measure and replacing them with the contents of S.B. No. 239, S.D. 1, which:

 

     (1)  Reduces the amount of JABSOM's portion of Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund monies by one percent each fiscal year starting with fiscal year 2012-2013until the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, upon which date use of Tobacco Settlement monies for JABSOM's operating expenses shall no longer be authorized; and

 

     (2)  Increases the amount of Tobacco Settlement monies that are credited to the General Fund by one percent each fiscal year starting with fiscal year 2012-2013 until the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Education and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1330, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1330, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Education and Health,

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, M.D., Chair

 

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair