STAND. COM. REP. NO. 679-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2161

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHARMACY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a pharmacist workforce assessment fee to fund activities of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaiʻi Pharmacists Association; Molokaʻi Drugs, Inc.; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Pharmacy.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are among the most accessible health care providers with a doctoral level of expertise and clinical training. Your Committee further finds that these health care providers are underutilized in the State. This measure provides a funding mechanism for the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy to strengthen pharmacist workforce assessments and planning efforts and supports a data-informed, coordinated, and intentional effort to position the profession of pharmacy to help fill existing health care gaps in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Codifying in statute provisions regarding the quarterly disbursement of funds to the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $490,000 to support the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy's activities related to workforce assessment and planning, including the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Executive Director position.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair