Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2526 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the reestablishment of dedicated emergency medical service personnel to staff the aeromedical helicopter unit on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee received testimony from the Mayor of the county of Hawaii in support of the bill.

Your Committee finds that the current practice of staffing the aeromedical helicopter on the island of Hawaii by utilizing "ground ambulance" personnel reduces operational effectiveness and safety by:

This bill would address these concerns by providing the necessary funds to provide quality healthcare to patients utilizing the aeromedical helicopter unit on the island of Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended the bill by changing the amount appropriated to $1 for the purpose of furthering discussion on this matter.

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. 2526, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2526, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.