STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1047

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 285

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE JOHN A. BURNS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the John A. Burns School of Medicine scholarship program, which covers the cost of tuition and fees for a full course of study at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in exchange for a service commitment of five years in the State upon the completion of residency.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and one individual.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that it is estimated that Hawaii's shortage of physicians has sharply increased to nearly twenty percent from 2013 to 2014.  This shortage is expected to increase by more than sixty-eight percent by 2020.  This measure will provide much needed incentives for future physicians to serve in Hawaii for five years post-completion of the recipient's residency.

 

     Your Committees have heard testimony expressing concerns related to matching funds for the scholarship program, additional support for the graduate medical education program within the Johns A. Burns School of Medicine for residency and fellowship programs, and resources for the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Pharmacy.  Your Committees find that these issues raise concerns that merit further consideration and request that your Committee on Ways and Means further examine these issues if it chooses to hear this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Higher Education and the Arts that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 285, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

________________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair