STAND. COM. REP. NO.811

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 748

S.D. 2

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 748, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NURSING EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a nursing education loan program under the University of Hawaii for students of nursing programs in both public and private institutions in the State.

Specifically, this measure authorizes the University of Hawaii to provide loans of up to $10,000 per academic year to an eligible nursing student.

Furthermore, this measure forgives loan repayment for loan recipients who graduate and work as registered nurses in the State. Additionally, this measure appropriates general funds to establish and implement the loan program.

Your Committee finds that the shortage of nurses is a critical concern to the State. Your Committee believes that the loan program authorized in this measure will encourage students to study nursing, thereby ensuring an adequate supply of registered nurses in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the maximum loan amount available to a student per academic year to an unspecified figure for purposes of continued discussion on the matter, and by making a technical nonsubstantive change.

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 S.B. No. 748, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 748, S.D. 2.

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

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair