STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3872

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1550

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII MEDICAL EDUCATION SPECIAL FUND,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the State's shortage of health care providers.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Reestablishes the Hawaii medical education special fund; and

(2) Authorizes the John A. Burns School of Medicine to expend moneys from the Hawaii medical education special fund to support graduate medical education and training programs.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Association, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that continuously and adequately funding graduate medical education is vital to address the State's ongoing physician shortage.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Moving the new statutory section created by section 2 of the measure to subpart C, part V, of Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, which includes most other University of Hawaii special funds; and

(2) Making a technical nonsubstantive amendment for purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair