Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2187, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to contract with a government agency or United States military branch to provide intra-island only roto-wing emergency aeromedical helicopter services for rural Oahu.

The Department of Health, the City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department, the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Pacific Medical Assets Inc., The Queen's Medical Center, and one individual submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Attorney General submitted comments.

Your Committee finds that an imminent need exists for the provision of helicopter medical transport services for rural Oahu. The United States Army's 68^th Medical Company's Medical Assistance to Safety and Traffic helicopters can no longer provide this assistance because of their service to our country overseas. This measure appropriates funds to provide intra-island emergency aeromedical services to rural Oahu.

Your Committee urges the Department of Health to continue exploring ways to provide Kauai County with much needed emergency aeromedical helicopter services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

Your Committee has further amended this measure to be consistent with the other counties' cost-share funding provisions for emergency aeromedical services, by providing that the State and City and County of Honolulu shall cost-share, with each to pay one-half of the cost to contract for the provision of intra-island roto-wing aeromedical services.

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 H.B. No. 2187, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2187, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.