STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1437-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   S.B. No. 2320

      S.D. 2

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN UNDERGRADUATE HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to establish an undergraduate Health Sciences Academy to be administered by the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and John A. Burns School of Medicine to increase recruitment and retention of native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and first-generation college students.  This measure also requires the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to submit a report to the Legislature regarding educational outcomes and appropriates funds.

 

     The University of Hawaii System, The Queen's Health Systems, Kamehameha Schools, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Health and Department of Human Services testified in support of the intent of this measure.  The Ka Lāhui Hawaii Political Action Committee testified in support of this measure with amendments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

While this measure is laudable, your Committee feels that it may be better to insert it in the Executive Supplemental Budget to help support the program and the attraction of qualified candidates.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANGUS L.K. McKELVEY, Chair