STAND. COM. REP. NO.  795-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   H.B. No. 1953

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1953 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide for the medical needs of the community in light of the closure of Hawaii Medical Center's two hospitals, by appropriating funds to:

(1)  Increase the on-call availability of emergency medical services and ambulance services in Leeward Oahu; and

(2)  Assist Wahiawa General Hospital in providing additional emergency room services.

The United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL-CIO; Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and Emergency Services Department of the City and County of Honolulu testified in support of this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the appropriation amounts to unspecified amounts;

(2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to facilitate ongoing discussion; and

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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 H.B. No. 1953, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1953, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

MARCUS R. OSHIRO, Chair