Establishes the EMT stipend program to remedy the shortage of MICT paramedics in Hawaii and to assist, through a state-qualified MICT program, ten students per year who are public or private paramedics and currently do not have access to a stipend program. Makes appropriation. (SD2)

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a shortage of at least fifty mobile intensive care technician/paramedics in Hawaii right now. As part of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Strategic Planning for the Future conference in 2003, it was estimated that two hundred fifty mobile intensive care technicians (MICTs) would be needed within the next five years to fully staff the system. This estimate includes current shortages, attrition, and anticipated system growth (e.g., the Federal Fire Department had six MICTs and anticipated needing twenty-nine before the end of 2007).

The lack of local training has made the shortage even more critical. Emergency medical technicians/technologists (EMTs) leave the industry because they are unable to advance without financial assistance. Others take correspondence classes in nursing or other related health care work. Currently, there are at least ten students who wish to enter the next MICT program being offered on Maui, which possibly will be scheduled in early 2007. Without financial assistance of some type, it is unlikely that many of them will be able to attend.

The prime recruiting grounds for the Federal Fire Department is the city and county of Honolulu MICT workforce, which is already critically short-staffed. All providers look increasingly to paramedics who have trained on the mainland to staff Hawaii’s ambulances. These mainland recruits rarely last more than two years in the Hawaii system before returning back to the mainland.

It is widely recognized that the monies distributed for MICT workforce development are not equitable. Unless there is a remedy to provide financial stipends to non-civil service employees who train in an accredited program, the crisis will quickly get worse.

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to establish a training stipend program for Emergency Medical Technicians who do not have access to such a program and want to advance in their chosen profession by enrolling in a state-qualified Mobile Intensive Care Technician training program.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $350,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to establish the EMT stipend program to remedy the shortage of MICT paramedics in Hawaii and to assist, through a state-qualified MICT program, ten students per year who are public or private paramedics and currently do not have access to a stipend program.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.