STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1008-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1977

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1977, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to address the State's physician shortage by establishing a Medical Student Sponsorship Program within the Department of Health for medical students who successfully graduate from a high-quality but lower-cost school of medicine and make a ten-year service commitment to practice medicine in Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Physician Shortage Crisis Task Force, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, and the County of Hawaii Office of the Mayor.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Establishing a Medical Student Sponsorship Selection Commission within the Department of Health to select program participants; and

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

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. 1977, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1977, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair