STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2719

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2644

       S.D. 2

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2644, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE PUNA DISTRICT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds as a grant-in-aid to the Hawaii County Fire Department to add an advanced life support ambulance/paramedic unit to serve the Puna District.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, the Hawaii County Fire Department, the Hawaii County Council Member representing the Fourth Council District, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the population of Puna has steadily increased over the past decade and is expected to reach approximately seventy-five thousand residents in fifteen years.  Your Committee further finds that stationing an ambulance/paramedic unit equipped with advanced life support equipment in the Puna District will benefit the State by protecting public health and safety.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting the language referring to the appropriation as a grant-in-aid;

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

     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. 2644, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2644, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair