STAND. COM. REP. NO.  948

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 Finance, 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 provide loan repayment for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, and marriage and family therapists who agree to work in a federally-designated health professional shortage area or an underserved area in the State by appropriating funds to be matched by private or public funds, to fund the Health Care Professionals Loan Repayment Program administered through the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).

The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation East Hawaii Region, Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, Hawaii Area Health Education Center, Lanai Community Health Center, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hilo Medical Center Foundation, Hawaii Medical Association, and numerous individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Health, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, JABSOM, and several individuals commented on this measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance 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 pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair