Bill Text: HI SB2320 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relating To An Undergraduate Health Sciences Academy.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-23 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) C. Lee, Lowen, McDermott, Souki, Tokioka excused (5). [SB2320 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2320-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2320

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO AN UNDERGRADUATE HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that current data suggest that native Hawaiians are less likely to attend college in comparison to other ethnic groups due to low levels of preparation and inadequate finances.  For native Hawaiian students who attend college, graduation and retention rates are significantly lower than the general student population.

     The legislature further finds that for many native Hawaiian students, a strong desire to live close to family, participation in family activities at home, and cultural pressures are factors that contribute to non-completion of a college degree.  In addition, multiple studies testing for factors leading to retention have identified that the more involved native Hawaiian students are in school activities and the more interaction they have with faculty and their peers, the more likely they are to persevere in their higher education.  The development of a health sciences academy, with a focus on native Hawaiian student retention, would target integration of the student and their family in school activities.

     The legislature further finds that it has been reported that thirty per cent of native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students have parents with high school degrees as the highest education level, and eighteen per cent have parents with a bachelor's degree or higher.

     Moreover, health care sector employment is projected to increase by more than one hundred sixty per cent by 2040, and the wages in that sector are typically more consistent with a livable wage in Hawaii.  However, these jobs typically require a bachelor's degree at minimum.  Currently only about fifteen per cent of native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders hold bachelor's degrees.

     To address these issues, S.R. No. 60, S.D. 1, regular session of 2014, created the native Hawaiian health task force to improve the health of native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.  The goal of the task force was to articulate priorities to advance health care equity for native Hawaiians which would in turn improve health care for all people of Hawaii.  The work conducted by the task force was community- and land-focused and emphasized native Hawaiian values and aspirations such as examining past efforts to improve the health of native Hawaiians.  The task force used na pou kihi as the cultural framework to organize its findings and recommendations.  Na pou kihi reflects the necessary four corner posts of a hale (home) necessary to support the weight of the structure and everyone who resides under its roof.  The framework and recommendations were widely discussed and embraced by government agencies, community members, and affected stakeholders.

     One of the four corner posts of na pou kihi, ka wai ola, focuses on achieving social justice through educational achievement and economic success for native Hawaiians.  Native Hawaiians have a long history of valuing learning and the pursuit of knowledge, which are celebrated in moolelo (history) and exemplified in the phenomenal achievements of native Hawaiian kupuna.  Economically, native Hawaiian ancestors developed a sophisticated system of resource management that ensured equitable access to the riches of the aina (land), wai (fresh water), and kai (ocean) for all.  All members of society had a clear and well-defined role that contributed to the welfare of the community.  Ka wai ola provides the foundation for securing the educational and economic benefits necessary for native Hawaiians to thrive and flourish in society.

     The legislature further finds that establishment of a health sciences academy with a focus on native Hawaiian student retention would promote integration of students into the academic college milieu and serve as a model for other underrepresented groups.

     This Act reflects the position of the legislature on native Hawaiian health care.  The legislature supports:

     (1)  Collaborative efforts to ensure that funding for native Hawaiian health care continues;

     (2)  Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders by focusing on essential social and cultural determinants that improve health outcomes amongst the State's indigenous population;

     (3)  Options to improve health care for keiki and residents in rural areas; and

     (4)  Collaborative efforts to provide better dental care for keiki and adults throughout the State's communities.

     The purpose of this Act is to develop an undergraduate health sciences academy within the University of Hawaii system to target the recruitment and retention of native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and first generation college students.

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

     "§304A-    Undergraduate health sciences academy pathway.  (a)  There shall be an undergraduate health sciences academy established within the University of Hawaii system to target the recruitment and retention of native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and first generation college students.  The undergraduate health sciences academy shall be administered by the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and John A. Burns School of Medicine and shall offer such courses of study as may be deemed appropriate in collaboration with other University of Hawaii campuses.

     (b)  The mission of the undergraduate health sciences academy shall be to eliminate health disparities in native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other underserved communities by promoting access to quality health sciences education pathways at the early college and undergraduate levels.

     (c)  The following native Hawaiian principles shall guide the academic programs:

     (1)  Hoomalamalama – education strategies:  students shall be directed to the health science pathway that best aligns with their career goals;

     (2)  Hoomana – empowerment strategies:  develop health leadership curriculum, foster mentorship programs, and implement community service initiatives;

     (3)  Hoopili – engagement strategies:  promote ohana (family) involvement, the use of technology to engage the community and the family in the learning process, and the creation of community-based internships and service projects; and

     (4)  Hookahuli – transformation strategies:  creation of internships and the incorporation of technology throughout the program.

     (d)  No later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of each odd-numbered year, the University of Hawaii-West Oahu shall submit a report to the legislature on findings by the early college and undergraduate health sciences academy pathway regarding the educational outcomes, including enrollment and graduation data."

     SECTION 3.  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 2018-2019 for permanent faculty and staff positions at the undergraduate health sciences academy to be administered by the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and John A. Burns School of Medicine.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii-West Oahu for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.


 


 

Report Title:

UH; Health Sciences; Native Hawaiians; Pacific Islanders; Report; Appropriation

 

Description:

Establishes 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.  Requires the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to submit a report to the legislature regarding educational outcomes.  Appropriates funds.  (SB2320 HD1)

 

 

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

 

 

 

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