H.B. 1977 Summary

• Establishes a Medical Student Sponsorship Program within the Department of Health to address Hawaii's physician shortage by sponsoring medical students at high-quality but lower-cost schools of medicine outside Hawaii.

• Requires program participants to complete a ten-year consecutive service commitment to practice medicine in the State after graduating from an out-of-state medical school.

• Program covers tuition, fees, books, room and board, travel expenses, and reasonable subsistence allowance for sponsored students, with funds available.

• Creates a Medical Student Sponsorship Selection Commission composed of the Director of Health (chair) and one knowledgeable individual from each county to select program participants based on residency, educational background, academic, and character requirements.

• Requires program participants who fail to meet their service commitments to repay all state funds expended on their behalf; authorizes the Department to contract with collection agencies to recover delinquent reimbursements.