Bill Text: HI HB991 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: University of Hawaii; Loan Repayments

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-0)

Status: (Enrolled - Dead) 2009-05-11 - Carried over to 2010 Regular Session. [HB991 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2010-HB991-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1261

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 991

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 991, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure adequate access to medical care in rural, medically underserved areas of the State by establishing and appropriating funds for the Hawaii medical doctor loan program.

 

     Specifically, this measure provides financial assistance for:

 

(1)  Students who complete a state-approved medical school program at the University of Hawaii and agree to practice in rural areas of the State; or

 

(2)  Graduates of a medical school who have received medical training from a Hawaii-based medical program and agree to practice in rural areas of the State.

 

     The maximum aggregate amount of loans, at five per cent simple interest, that a student may receive under this program is equal to tuition payments and costs of textbooks and other necessary instructional and laboratory materials.  Repayment of a recipient's loan may be waived if the recipient practices in a rural area of the State, as designated by the university, for a minimum of six consecutive years.  This measure establishes the Hawaii medical doctor loan program revolving fund within the University of Hawaii and provides that all interest and payments received with regard to the loan program be credited to the revolving fund.  Finally, this measure appropriates an unspecified amount from general funds for deposit into the Hawaii medical doctor loan program revolving fund and appropriates an unspecified amount from the Hawaii medical doctor loan program revolving fund for the loan program.

 

     Your Committee received three written comments on this measure.  The written comments may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that this measure will provide an essential tool for recruiting and retaining health care professionals in medically underserved and rural areas of the State.

 

     Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Moving the provision creating the Hawaii medical doctor loan program revolving fund from the new subpart in part II of chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to part V of the same chapter because special, revolving, and other funds are typically established in part V;

 

(2)  Changing the unspecified appropriated amounts to $1; and

 

(3)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050 to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 991, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 991, H.D. 2, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

		____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair