STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1069

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   S.B. No. 113

      S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 113, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to address the shortage of health professionals in certain areas of the State by appropriating funds to the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program to provide loan repayment assistance for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, counselors, and social workers who agree to work in a federally designated health professional shortage area or an area in Hawaii found to be underserved.

 

     The University of Hawaii System, Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Department of Public Safety supported the intent of this measure.

 

     Should the Committee on Finance deliberate this measure further, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating the sum of $250,000 for each year of fiscal biennium 2015-2017 to implement and administer the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program to address the critical shortage of certain primary care and behavioral health providers in the State.

 

     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 S.B. No. 113, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ISAAC W. CHOY, Chair