HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2411

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii health corps program was established in 2012 with a focus on encouraging certain health care providers to serve in counties that are experiencing shortages of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, with a priority given to a rural area county.

     The legislature further finds that since that time, while this need remains, there is an increased need for a wider range of health care providers by professions, as well as a pressing need for practitioners in mental health.

     The legislature further finds that on September 9, 2023, the State launched the Hawaii healthcare education loan repayment program (HELP), a separate program that is alleviating the educational debt of four hundred ninety-two medical and health care professionals.

     Because of the expanded scope and purpose of HELP, the purpose of this Act is to rename the Hawaii health corps program to the Hawaii rural health care provider loan program to better reflect the purpose of the program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 309H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read as follows:

"[[]CHAPTER 309H[]]

HAWAII [HEALTH CORPS] RURAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER LOAN PROGRAM"

     SECTION 3.  Section 309H-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of "loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" to read as follows:

     ""Loan repayment" or "repayment of loan" means the payment of up to twenty per cent of a Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan repayment program participant's health care training costs including but not limited to tuition not exceeding $35,000 per year for a maximum of five years of repayment."

     SECTION 4.  Section 309H-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (a) to read:

     "(a)  There is created [within the Hawaii health corps program,] the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program to be administered by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene in partnership with a lending financial institution whose operations are principally conducted in Hawaii.  The Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program shall provide loan repayments to eligible physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who make the service commitment under subsection (b).  The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall make loan repayments directly to the financial institution under subsection (b) to offset the loan repayment for which the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient would otherwise be liable.  Loan repayments shall commence upon the commencement of loan repayments by the Hawaii rural health care provider loan repayment program recipient to the lending financial institution.  The University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene shall prioritize loan repayments in accordance with the greatest specialty shortages for the particular county."

     2.  By amending subsection (e) to read:

     "(e)  In accordance with chapter 103D, the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine and the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments.  All payments collected, exclusive of a collection agency's commissions, shall revert and be credited to the Hawaii [health corps] rural health care provider loan fund.  A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine or the University of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene to collect delinquent reimbursements of loan repayments pursuant to this section may collect a commission from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract."

     SECTION 5.  Sections 309H-2 and 309H-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, are amended by substituting the word "rural health care provider loan", or similar term, wherever the word "health corps", or similar term, appears, as the context requires.

     SECTION 6.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

 

 

Report Title:

Hawaii Health Corps Program; Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Loan Program; Loan Repayment

 

Description:

Renames the Hawaii Health Corps Program to the Hawaii Rural Health Care Provider Loan Program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.