Bill > HB223

This bill establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts in Hawaii. The legislation creates a new funding mechanism by introducing a pharmacist workforce assessment fee that will be collected from various pharmacy-related licenses and permits, including pharmacist licenses, wholesale prescription drug distributor licenses, and pharmacy permits. The collected fees will be deposited into a special fund administered by the University of Hawaii, specifically the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. The fund's purpose is to support activities such as maintaining an accurate pharmacist workforce database, providing loan repayment for pharmacists working in medically underserved areas, and offering scholarships to qualifying pharmacy students. The bill recognizes the critical role pharmacists play in healthcare, particularly in remote communities, and aims to address current healthcare challenges by creating a sustainable mechanism to recruit, retain, and support pharmacists in Hawaii. The legislation modifies existing statutes to incorporate the new workforce assessment fee into license renewal processes and ensures that the collected funds will be used specifically to improve pharmacy workforce development in rural and underserved areas of the state.

Business and Industry, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=223&year=2026