CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 39

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 119

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 119, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING,"

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 to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the State is experiencing a severe nursing workforce shortage which has resulted in poorer patient outcomes, particularly in rural areas of the State. This measure appropriates funds to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College which will create a more efficient pathway for nursing students, reduce the nursing workforce shortage, and allow Maui nursing students to remain on Maui during their entire course of study.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Consolidating sections 2, 3, and 4 and inserting appropriation amounts of $250,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $350,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to:

(A) Establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College;

(B) Fund additional personnel associated with the establishment of the program; and

(C) Purchase related supplies and equipment;

(2) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds to meet the increased demand for prerequisite courses by students newly enrolled in the program;

(3) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for simulation and laboratory upgrades associated with the establishment of the program;

(4) Deleting language what would have appropriated funds for instructional costs associated with providing a third year of nursing courses following the establishment of the program;

(5) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025; and

(6) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 119, 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. 119, 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

____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair
____________________________ DANIEL HOLT Co-Chair	____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair