STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1349-26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2261

      S.D. 1

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2261, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to require Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on the recruitment and retention of physicians and dentists to serve the island of Molokai.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii Dental Association; Hawaii Medical Association; AlohaCare; and Hawaii Dental Service.  

 

     Your Committee finds that geographic isolation, a small and dispersed population, and limited housing availability have contributed to the challenges in recruiting and retaining physicians and dentists to serve the island of Molokai.  Your Committee further finds that a focused study that can assess factors such as compensation structures, loan repayment opportunities, housing support, telehealth integration, and community-based training pipelines will provide the State with the data necessary to develop and implement strategies that are tailored specifically to Molokai's health care workforce needs.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 $100,000.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2261, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2261, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair