Appropriates funds to increase The Queen's Medical Center's power generating capacity.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The recent tragic events in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the recent threats to the State by hurricanes Jova and Kenneth highlight the urgent need to assure that emergency medical caregivers have sufficient facilities and energy capacity to cope with a massive medical emergency.

The legislature finds that The Queen's Medical Center is the only medical facility in this State with a trauma center that is certified by the American College of Surgeons. While most hospitals are equipped with emergency facilities to deal with patients needing immediate care, a trauma center is specially equipped for dealing with serious and life-threatening injuries. A critical component of a properly equipped trauma center is an operating room served by various medical specialists, diagnostic equipment, and other life-support systems. It is vital to have sufficient emergency energy capacity in order to support the operation of a trauma center during a disaster.

The Queen's Medical Center currently has two emergency generators with a total installed capacity of two thousand kilowatts. It is estimated that peak demand during a disaster is six thousand kilowatts. Part of this estimated demand is to operate water pumps that draw water from the hospital's private wells if the public supply becomes unavailable. This necessary additional energy capacity will require three additional operating generators and one standby generator. A new storage structure for the generators, one that is capable of withstanding the wind force of a category five hurricane, is also needed.

The purpose of this Act is to provide financial support to The Queen's Medical Center to ensure that it is prepared and capable of serving the community during a disaster.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $11,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, as a grant pursuant to chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statues, for The Queen's Medical Center to increase its emergency power generator system to ensure a required maximum capacity of six thousand kilowatts so that it can operate in the event of a disaster.

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.