HB 2159: UH; Health Care Workforce Development; Positions; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii is responsible for training the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and public health workers in the State.  The legislature further finds that severe shortages in nearly all health profession disciplines and most medical specialties have severely limited access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas and areas with certain minority and vulnerable populations.  These workforce shortages are particularly felt in high-priority areas of concern such as cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health-primary care integration and addiction medicine.

     The legislature also finds that establishing additional clinical faculty positions in the university of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns school of medicine, university of Hawaii cancer center, university of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, university of Hawaii at Manoa Thompson school of social work and public health, and university of Hawaii at Hilo Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy will strengthen the ability of the university of Hawaii to address critical workforce shortages by filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational research roles.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for additional positions in the university of Hawaii to address the State's health care workforce shortages.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of      full-time equivalent (     FTE) positions within the university of Hawaii system to support health care workforce development in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2055.

Report Title:

UH; Health Care Workforce Development; Positions; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State.  Effective 7/31/2055.  (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii is responsible for training the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and public health workers in the State.  The legislature further finds that severe shortages in nearly all health profession disciplines and most medical specialties have severely limited access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas and areas with certain minority and vulnerable populations.  These workforce shortages are particularly felt in high-priority areas of concern such as cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health-primary care integration and addiction medicine.

     The legislature also finds that establishing additional clinical faculty positions in the university of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns school of medicine, university of Hawaii cancer center, university of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, university of Hawaii at Manoa Thompson school of social work and public health, and university of Hawaii Hilo Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy will strengthen the ability of the university of Hawaii to address critical workforce shortages by filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational research roles.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for additional positions in the university of Hawaii to address the State's health care workforce shortages.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of      full-time equivalent (     FTE) positions within the university of Hawaii system to support health care workforce development in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Health Care Workforce Development; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii is responsible for training the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and public health workers in the State.  The legislature further finds that severe shortages in nearly all health profession disciplines and most medical specialties have severely limited access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas and areas with certain minority and vulnerable positions.  These workforce shortages are particularly felt in high-priority areas of concern such as cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health-primary care integration and addiction medicine.

     The legislature also finds that establishing additional clinical faculty positions in the university of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns school of medicine, university of Hawaii cancer center, university of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, university of Hawaii at Manoa Thompson school of social work and public health, and university of Hawaii Hilo Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy will strengthen the ability of the university of Hawaii to address critical workforce shortages by filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational research roles.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for additional positions in the university of Hawaii to address the State's health care workforce shortages.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of      full-time equivalent (     FTE) positions within the university of Hawaii system to support health care workforce development in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Health Care Workforce Development; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to health care workforce development.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii is responsible for training the next generation of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and public health workers in the State.  The legislature further finds that severe shortages in nearly all health profession disciplines and most medical specialties have severely limited access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas and areas with certain minority and vulnerable positions.  These workforce shortages are particularly felt in high-priority areas of concern such as cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health-primary care integration and addiction medicine.

     The legislature also finds that establishing additional clinical faculty positions in the university of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns school of medicine, university of Hawaii cancer center, university of Hawaii at Manoa school of nursing and dental hygiene, university of Hawaii at Manoa Thompson school of social work and public health, and university of Hawaii Hilo Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy will strengthen the ability of the university of Hawaii to address critical workforce shortages by filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational research roles.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish and appropriate funds for additional positions in the university of Hawaii to address the State's health care workforce shortages.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,724,600 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of eighteen and a half full-time equivalent (18.5 FTE) positions within the university of Hawaii system to support health care workforce development in Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii; Health Care Workforce Development; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  807-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2159

      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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2159, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish positions and appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi to support health care workforce development in the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Medical Association; Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter; LeadingAge Pacific West; Hawaii Association of Health Plans; The Queen's Health Systems; Navian Hawaii; and numerous individuals.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2159, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  552-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2159

      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 Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2159, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish positions and appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi to support health care workforce development in the State.  

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Navian Hawaii; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Medical Association; The Queen's Health Systems; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; LeadingAge Pacific West; Home Care Association of America Hawaii Chapter; and numerous individuals.  

     Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing severe shortages in almost all health care professions and disciplines and medical specialties, which significantly limits access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.  Your Committee believes that filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational role will strengthen the University of Hawaii's ability to expand supervised training, residency slots, and community-based rotations in underserved areas.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 2159, 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. 2159, H.D. 2.

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

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  136-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2159

      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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2159 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for additional positions in the University of Hawaii to address the State's health care workforce shortage.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaii Medical Association; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Navian Hawaii; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that severe shortages in the health profession disciplines and most medical specialties have severely limited access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas, impacting certain minorities and vulnerable persons.  Your Committee believes that this measure, which establishes additional clinical faculty positions at various colleges within the University of Hawaii System, will strengthen the ability of the University of Hawaii to address critical workforce shortages by filling key educational, training, and clinical-translational research roles.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation and position counts to unspecified amounts;

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

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

     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 H.B. No. 2159, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2159, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health.

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