STAND. COM. REP. NO. 190-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1795

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1795 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Expand the Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Repayment Program to include eligible social workers and psychologists;

(2) Require the Department of Health to be responsible for the administration of the Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Repayment Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Hawaii Medical Association, National Association of Social Workers – Hawai‘i, Hawaii Association of School Psychologists, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Health Corps Program and Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program were enacted as Act 187, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012; however, the program were never funded. Your Committee further finds that the John A. Burns School of Medicine has been administering a similar program, the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program, since it was awarded a federal grant in 2012.

Your Committee has heard and understands the concerns raised in testimony regarding the potential impact a second loan repayment program would have on the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program. However, your Committee believes that establishing a separate loan repayment program targeted toward psychologists and social workers would encourage these health care professionals to serve in counties with a shortage of psychologists and social workers, without disrupting the success of the existing Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language establishing the Hawaii Rural Mental Health Corps Program and Hawaii Rural Mental Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program;

(2) Deleting language making the Department of Health responsible for the administration of the Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Loan Repayment program;

(3) Granting rule making authority to the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, and Department of Health for the administration of the Hawaii Rural Mental Health Corps Program and Hawaii Rural Mental Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program;

(4) Clarifying that the appropriation of general funds in this measure is for the Hawaii Rural Mental Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

(6) 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 Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1795, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1795, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair