SCR203 Summary — Hawaii Concurrent Resolution
Overview
- Bill: SCR 203
- Title: Requesting the University of Hawaii to explore the feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and identify the requirements for receiving federal funding from the National Institute on Aging for Alzheimer's disease research.
- Type: Concurrent resolution (non-binding)
- Introduced: March 7, 2025
- Status: Reported from the Higher Education and Development (HED) committee with a recommendation to refer to the Finance (FIN) committee; referred to FIN as of April 11, 2025
- Related: Companion measures HCR 31 and SR163
Purpose and Intent
- The resolution directs the University of Hawaii (UH) to assess whether establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) is feasible in Hawaii.
- It also requires UH to identify the requirements and steps needed to obtain federal funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) for Alzheimer's disease research.
- The goal is to position Hawaii to participate in NIA-designated ADRCs, leveraging available federal funding to enhance research, diagnosis, treatment, and care related to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
Key Provisions and Requirements for UH
- Feasibility assessment: UH should evaluate its current research capabilities, infrastructure, and expertise related to Alzheimer's disease.
- Impact analysis: UH should assess benefits and impacts on UH, the State of Hawaii, and Hawaii residents if an ADRC were established.
- Identification of funding requirements: Determine the criteria and guidelines for NIA ADRC grants and outline the institutional commitments needed to meet these requirements.
- Phased plan: Develop a phased plan that includes:
- Initial feasibility assessments
- Infrastructure development
- Faculty recruitment
- Community engagement
- Timeline: Create an estimated timeline for each phase, including grant application milestones and the eventual establishment of an ADRC.
- Reporting requirement: UH must submit a report to the Legislature detailing the feasibility assessment, funding requirements, and the proposed timeline by December 31, 2025.
- Communications: Certified copies of the resolution and UH’s report should be transmitted to key state and UH officials (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Director of Health, UH System President, UH Board of Regents, UH Manoa Center on Aging, and the Dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine).
Impacts and Beneficiaries
- Primary institutions: University of Hawaii system (especially UH Manoa and related medical/aging programs).
- Beneficiaries: Hawaii residents who would benefit from potential advances in Alzheimer’s research, diagnosis, care, and treatment; Hawaiʻi’s diverse population (including large Asian American and Pacific Islander communities) may provide unique research insights.
- State impact: Potential to attract federal funds, enhance scientific capabilities, and bolster health research capacity in Hawaii without committing state funding through this non-binding resolution.
Procedural and Timeline Considerations
- No appropriation or enforcement authority is conveyed by a concurrent resolution; its effect is to request study, planning, and reporting.
- Report due date: December 31, 2025.
- Next steps: If adopted, UH would proceed with the feasibility study and plan, culminating in a legislative report and potential future actions by the Legislature or the UH system.
Notes
- Companion measures: HCR 31 and SR163 in the Legislature.
- The resolution emphasizes Hawaii’s research potential given its diverse population and UH’s role as the state’s premier higher education institution.
