RELATING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL TUITION.

HB221

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

221

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to medical school tuition
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that Hawaii is currently experiencing a shortage of nearly
eight hundred physicians.

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The legislature further finds that in
recent years, the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine has admitted
seventy-seven new entrants per year, consisting of sixty-seven Hawaii residents
and ten out-of-state residents.
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For the
2025-2026 academic year, expected Hawaii resident tuition will be $36,372 and
out-of-state tuition will be $71,328.

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The legislature also finds that only about
half of the individuals in each year's graduating class of the John A. Burns
school of medicine serve as a physician in Hawaii, whereas approximately eighty
per cent of the graduates who complete a residency in Hawaii remain in Hawaii to
serve as a physician.

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The legislature believes that each graduate
who benefits from less expensive Hawaii resident tuition, which is subsidized
by the tens of millions of dollars in general funds appropriated to the John A.
Burns school of medicine by the legislature each year, should be committed to
using their medical knowledge for the benefit of Hawaii.

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The purpose of this Act is to require each graduate
of the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine who benefitted
from Hawaii resident tuition to commit to serving as a physician in Hawaii for
two years following a residency or fellowship.

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SECTION
2
.
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Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new subpart to part II to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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SUBPART
�
.
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JOhn A. Burns

school
of medicine resident tuition Fee

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�304A-A
�
John A. Burns school of medicine; resident
tuition fee.
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(a)
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This section shall apply to each individual
who:

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(1)
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Qualified
for and paid resident tuition fee under section 304A-402 while enrolled in a
program that culminated in the award of a doctor of medicine degree; and

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(2)
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After
January 1, 2029, is awarded a doctor of medicine degree by the university of Hawaii.

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(b)
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Each individual under subsection (a) shall commence serving as a
physician in the State within five years after completion of medical residency or
fellowship, whichever is later.
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The
individual shall continue serving as a physician in the State for not less than
two consecutive years.

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(c)
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Any individual under subsection (a) who does not commence serving as a
physician or continue serving as a physician as required under subsection (b)
shall reimburse the State for the difference between the resident tuition fee
and the non-resident tuition fee for each year the individual paid for resident
tuition fee.

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�304A-B
�
E
xtenuating
circumstances.
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The dean of
the university of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine, by rule, may exempt
any individual from the requirements of section 304A‑A if the dean determines
that there are extenuating circumstances.
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The dean may extend the five-year period to commence serving as a
physician under section 304A-A(b) due to extenuating circumstances.

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�304A-C
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Program administration.
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(a)
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The university of Hawaii shall monitor and verify each applicable
individual's fulfillment of the requirements under section 304A-A.

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(b)
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The university of Hawaii may enter into a contract with a private or
public entity to enforce the requirements under section 304A-A.

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(c)
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The university of Hawaii shall enforce payment of amounts owed under
section 304A-A(c).
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Enforcement shall
include the use of all lawful collection procedures, including private
collection agencies.

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�304A-D
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Annual report.
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The university
of Hawaii shall submit a report on section 304A-A to the legislature no later
than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2036 and
every year thereafter.
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The report shall
include information on the number of individuals under section 304A‑A(a),
separated by year of graduation, who:

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(1)
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Have
satisfied the requirements of section 304A-A(b);

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(2)
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Are
making reasonable progress toward satisfying the requirements of section
304A-A(b);

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(3)
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Have
been subject to reimbursement under section 304A‑A(c) and the status of
those reimbursements; and

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(4)
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Have
been subject to extenuating circumstances under section 304A‑B."

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SECTION 3.
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In codifying the new sections added by section 2 of this Act, the
revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate section numbers for the
letters used in designating the new sections in this Act.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH;
JABSOM; Resident Tuition Fee; In-State Tuition

Description:

Requires graduates
of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine who have paid
in-state tuition to serve as a physician in the State for at least 2 years
following their medical residency or fellowship.
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Begins with the class of 2029.

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