STAND. COM. REP. NO. 25-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1977

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1977 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to ameliorate the shortage of physicians in Hawaii by requiring the Department of Health to establish, develop, and implement a program to sponsor medical students who attend the College of Medicine of the University of Northern Philippines in exchange for a ten-year service commitment to practice medicine in Hawaii after graduation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association, Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments from the Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, University of Hawaii, Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaii, and American Academy of Pediatrics - Hawaii Chapter.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Broadening the medical student sponsorship program to include any high-quality but lower-cost school of medicine, and removing specific references to the College of Medicine of the University of Northern Philippines;

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As this measure moves through the legislative session, your Committee urges its proponents to work with the Department of Health, Department of the Attorney General, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and stakeholders to craft a reasonable solution to address the shortage of physicians in Hawaii.

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. 1977, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1977, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair