Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 218, S.D. 4, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to remedy the shortage of paramedics by appropriating funds to establish a training stipend program for emergency medical technicians who do not have access to a training stipend program and who want to advance in their chosen profession.

The County of Hawaii Fire Department, University of Hawaii, American Medical Response, and many concerned individuals testified in support of this bill. One concerned individual supported this measure with amendments. The Department of Health supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee has amended this bill by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 218, S.D. 4, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 218, S.D. 4, H.D. 1.