STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2957

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 2213

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2213, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A WEST MAUI HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist the West Maui Hospital and Medical Center Foundation, Inc., in establishing a hospital in West Maui.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the County Council, County of Maui; Office of the Mayor, County of Maui; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

     Your Committee finds that West Maui's increasing population requires the establishment of a nearby hospital to timely handle emergency situations.  Your Committee further finds that critical care patients often need lifesaving treatment within a small window of time.  However, the travel time from West Maui to the existing Maui Memorial Medical Center in Central Maui generally takes between forty to ninety minutes.  This measure will ensure access to medical treatment in West Maui in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors.

     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 H.B. No. 2213, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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JOSH GREEN, Chair