STAND. COM. REP. NO.  674

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 916

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 916, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds on a matching basis to the Department of Health to fund the loan repayment program administered by the John A. Burns School of Medicine to provide loan repayments to health care professionals who agree to work in a federally designated health professional shortage area or underserved areas in the State.

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Department of Health, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health, East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians, Hawaii Area Health Education Center, Ohana Health Plan, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Medical Association, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142, Lanai Community Health Center, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.

     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. 916, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair