Bill > HB2159

This bill aims to address critical healthcare workforce shortages in Hawaii by establishing new positions and allocating funds to the University of Hawaii system. The legislature recognizes that Hawaii faces significant shortages of doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and public health workers, which limits access to care, especially in rural and underserved areas, and for vulnerable populations. These shortages are particularly acute in areas like cancer, neurology and dementia, and behavioral health-primary care integration and addiction medicine. To combat this, the bill proposes creating additional clinical faculty positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa's John A. Burns School of Medicine, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene, the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, and the University of Hawaii Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy. These new roles are intended to bolster the university's capacity to train future healthcare professionals, fill essential educational and clinical roles, and advance research. The bill appropriates funds for these full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, which represent the equivalent of one full-time worker, for the fiscal year 2026-2027, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 3000.

Budget and Finance, Education, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2159&year=2026