STAND. COM. REP. NO.  189

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 902

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 902 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to improve access to health care in Hawaii, particularly in rural areas, by establishing the Hawaii Medical Doctor Loan Program (Program).  Specifically, the Program will provide a low interest loan with waiver provisions to individuals who agree to practice in rural areas of the State, as designated by the University of Hawaii (UH), who are also:

 

     (1)  Students who complete a State-approved medical school program at UH; or

 

     (2)  Graduates of a medical school who have received medical training from a Hawaii-based medical program.

 

     The Hawaii Medical Association, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and several concerned individuals testified in support of this bill.  The Department of Budget and Finance provided comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 902, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 902, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

 

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

 

 

		____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair