STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2072

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   H.C.R. No. 283

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 283 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CIVIL DEFENSE DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, TO BEGIN NECESSARY PREPARATIONS TO ESTABLISH A MOBILE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL UNIT IN HAWAII,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to ensure timely and adequate provision of medical services statewide in times of emergency by requesting the Civil Defense Division (Civil Defense) of the Department of Defense (DOD), in cooperation with the Department of Health, to begin necessary preparations to establish a mobile emergency hospital unit in Hawaii.

     The Disability and Communications Access Board and several concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  DOD submitted comments.

     Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by:

(1)  Removing specific references to any current manufacturer of a mobile emergency hospital unit;

(2)  Requesting a report from Civil Defense and DOH on the cost and logistics of providing a mobile emergency hospital unit in Hawaii;

(3)  Requesting a report from DOD with information on the possible role the Emergency Management Assistance Compact could play in assisting Hawaii in times of emergency; and

(4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committees find that Hawaii's isolation from resources from the continental United States makes it imperative that we prepare to meet the health care needs of our citizens especially in times of disaster.  A mobile emergency hospital unit provides the state with an excellent resource that is practical and flexible enough to meet health care needs on all islands.  A unit known as the MED-1 was tested in some of the most extreme conditions following hurricane Katrina.  This type of unit can be loaded onto a military transport plane or be sent via barge to our Neighbor Islands in their time of need.  The MED-1's capabilities should be considered the standard to which all other mobile emergency hospital units are held to ensure the greatest use to our state.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 283, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 283, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety & Military Affairs and Health,

____________________________ JOHN MIZUNO, Acting Chair and Vice Chair

____________________________ SHARON E. HAR, Acting Chair and Vice Chair