Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 507 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow an emergency medical technician (EMT) to receive retirement benefits after achieving at least ten years of credited service as an EMT, the last five or more of which are credited years of service as an EMT.

The United Public Workers; Honolulu Paramedic Association; City and County of Honolulu, Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services Division; and numerous concerned individuals testified in support of this measure. The Department of Health and several individuals supported the intent of this measure.

Your Committee finds that currently, EMTs do not have parity with other public safety personnel such as police, firefighters, and water safety officers, in retirement benefits. EMTs are often placed in physically and emotionally demanding situations, similar to that of other public safety personnel.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 507, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 507, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Employment.