Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2577 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center to enable it to maintain twenty-four hour emergency room service.

The Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center is the lead agency for disaster response on the Waianae Coast. It also is the only medical facility on the Waianae Coast area that is equipped to handle emergencies, including the stabilization of persons with traumatic injuries or conditions. Thus, its emergency room is one of the most heavily used emergency rooms on Oahu, providing services not only to Waianae Coast residents but visitors as well.

Your Committee understands that the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center has been impacted by increased costs, including increased insurance costs and nursing salaries. The proposed funding will enable the Center to operate its emergency room from midnight to 8:00 a.m., to provide twenty-four hour emergency service.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2577, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2577, S.D. 1.