Emergency appropriation ($7,154,735) for FY 2006 to pay for ambulance service contract general operating costs for supplies and equipment, including negotiated collective bargaining costs.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Although funds were appropriated to the department of health for emergency medical services for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2005 and ending June 30, 2006, a critical funding emergency now exists.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate an additional $7,154,735 in general funds for fiscal year 2005-2006 to pay for unexpected ambulance service contract collective bargaining costs, fuel and other ambulance service operating costs, and contract ambulance billing and collection costs. This emergency appropriation is necessary to comply with collective bargaining increases negotiated by ambulance service providers statewide, increases in fuel and other ambulance service operating costs, and increases in workload in contracted ambulance billing and collection services. In addition, the purpose of this Act is to request an increase in the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund due to increase in costs in contract ambulance services in Maui and Kauai counties.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $5,621,552, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for the City and County of Honolulu; the sum of $867,531, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the County of Hawaii; the sum of $394,330, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the department of health for the purposes of payment to the American Medical Response-Maui, and the sum of $178,976, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the department of health for the purposes of payment to the American Medical Response-Kauai to comply with negotiated collective bargaining agreements, increases in fuel costs, and other ambulance service operating costs. In addition, there is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $92,346, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for Emergency Medical System contract ambulance billing and collection costs.

SECTION 4. There is appropriated an increase in the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund the sum of $441,721, or much thereof as may be necessary, for fiscal year 2005-2006 to be used for increased costs in contract ambulance services for the counties of Maui and Kauai, and for payment of the Central Service Assessment and Department Administrative Expenses for fiscal year 2005-2006.

SECTION 5. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health.