CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 238-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2597

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2597, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program administered through the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, subject to a matching funds requirement.

Your Committee on Conference finds that there is a shortage of health care professionals in the State, particularly in rural communities. This shortage threatens not only individual health, but the entire State's health care system. Your Committee on Conference also finds that individuals who receive loan repayments from the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program in exchange for work commitments in underserved practice areas in Hawaii are highly likely to remain at the site they performed their service. Health care professionals who have benefited from the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program serve on all islands and in rural and underserved communities. This measure appropriates funds for the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program to continue to provide a financial incentive to health care professionals working in health care shortage areas.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $500,000 for the Hawaii State Loan Repayment Program; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2597, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2597, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RYAN I. YAMANE Co-Chair	____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Chair
____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Co-Chair
____________________________ ADRIAN K. TAM Co-Chair	____________________________ BENNETTE MISALUCHA Co-Chair