Appropriates funds for 24-hour advanced emergency ambulance services for the upcountry area of Maui for FY 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. (HB1498 HD1)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the protection and preservation of the health of Hawaii's people is a matter of compelling state interest. The Kula-Makawao-Pukalani (upcountry) region of Maui is a growing community and tourist center and includes the only rural area on Maui that does not have a twenty-four-hour, locally based, advanced life support ambulance service available for its visitors and residents. Census growth trends over the past decade show that Kula's population growth rate nearly doubled that of the entire island of Maui, 47.09 per cent to 28.77 per cent, respectively. When this trend is combined with the already aged population of Kula, the legislature finds that there may be a greater demand for ambulance services in the near future.

The purpose of this Act is to ensure parity in emergency health care for residents and visitors of the upcountry region of Maui by providing twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance service to this region.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007 to provide twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance services for the upcountry region of Maui.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.