STAND. COM. REP. NO. 409

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1679

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1679 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure public safety by enabling Emergency Medical Services providers to respond to emergencies with the necessary equipment that is safe and reliable.

     Specifically, this measure appropriates funds to the Department of Health for two fully-equipped ambulance vehicles per year and two lifepak 12 defibrillators per year for the Emergency Medical Services on Oahu.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department, and three individuals.  The Department of Health submitted testimony in opposition to this measure.

     Your Committee received an estimated appropriation recommendation in the amount of $776,000 for the 2007-2009 fiscal biennium to fund two fully-equipped ambulance vehicles and two lifepak 12 defibrillators at a cost of $388,000 per year.

     Your Committee finds that the State's Emergency Medical System needs to be able to respond to the increasing numbers of emergencies that are occurring with appropriate, safe, and reliable, equipment.  Your Committee further finds that the equipment presently available and used by emergency responders is severely inadequate and unsafe.  Your Committee finds that this appropriation is not only necessary, but overdue and imperative to protect the public when emergency situations occur.

     Your Committee amended this measure to clarify that the appropriation amount is for two fully-equipped ambulance vehicles per year and two lifepak 12 defibrillators per year.

     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 S.B. No. 1679, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1679, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair