Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2518 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to improve emergency medical services in Hawaii by authorizing the Department of Health to aid implementation of a statewide poison information program.

Your Committee finds that a poison information program is critical to an adequate emergency medical service system. In responding to more than twelve thousand calls, the Hawaii Poison Center has been instrumental not only in saving lives, but also has contributed to lowering health care costs. A loss of state funding required the Poison Center to reduce the number of hours that emergency services were available.

Your Committee further finds that the statutory authority granted to the Department of Health by this measure will allow the Department to assist the Poison Center in securing sufficient funding to provide uninterrupted and comprehensive poison information and control services to the public.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2518, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.