Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2432 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate $750,000 for fiscal year 2002-2003 for emergency services at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.

The Department of Health and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center testified in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that maintaining emergency room service at the Center is critical for the 40,000 residents of the Waianae area, and that the next closest emergency center is twenty miles away. In addition, the emergency room is one of the most heavily utilized on Oahu, serving over 8,700 patients from July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001.

Your Committee supports the continuation of these essential health services for the people of the Waianae area.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2432 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.