STAND. COM. REP. NO. 920-04
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: S.B. No. 2690
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2690, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this bill is to improve emergency medical services for the safety of Hawaii's residents and visitors by:
(1) Establishing the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund (EMS Fund);
(2) Increasing the vehicle registration fee from $20 to $30;
(3) Depositing $20 of the fee to the State Highway Fund (Highway Fund) and $10 to the EMS Fund;
(4) Appropriating funds to provide a variety of emergency services in rural areas throughout the state; and
(5) Appropriating funds to provide professional development and training to paramedics statewide.
The Honolulu Emergency Services Department of the City and County of Honolulu, EMS Division of the Hawaii County Fire Department, American Medical Response, several members of the Maui County Council, and many concerned individuals supported this measure. Catrala-Hawaii opposed this measure. The Department of Health and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.
Rapid response by emergency medical services is critical to positive outcomes for emergency patients. Professional development and training for paramedics and new recruits will help to ensure the best possible emergency medical services.
Your Committee finds that there is only one ambulance serving over 40,000 residents living on the Waianae Coast of Oahu.
Your Committee notes that the EMS Fund is intended to be used to fund additional services and is not intended to provide for the entire operation of the emergency medical services. Any additional funds in the EMS Fund should be allocated towards emergency medical services in rural areas, particularly on the Neighbor Islands.
Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Clarifying that the EMS Fund moneys will be used to provide additional EMS services;
(2) Only appropriating funds for services in Waianae and Nanakuli;
(3) Leaving the amount of the vehicle registration fee and amounts deposited into the EMS Fund and Highway Fund blank; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.
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 S.B. No. 2690, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2690,
S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |