HB 1795 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii Rural Mental Health Corps Program administered by University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences and Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health to address shortages of psychologists and social workers in underserved and rural areas.

• Creates the Hawaii Rural Mental Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program administered by the Department of Health in partnership with a Hawaii-based financial institution to provide loan repayments to eligible psychologists and social workers.

• Requires participants to commit to five consecutive years of service as a psychologist or social worker in counties with documented shortages, with priority given to rural areas; preference given to University of Hawaii graduates.

• Authorizes the Department of Health to make loan repayment directly to the lending financial institution and seek reimbursement from participants who fail to meet their service commitments.

• Appropriates general revenue funds for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the program; effective July 1, 2060.