STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1031

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.B. No. 851

       H.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 851, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish an advanced life support ambulance to be based in Puna on the Island of Hawaii, including the acquisition of a vehicle and equipment and personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawai‘i Fire Department, United Public Workers, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that Puna community residents on the Island of Hawaii are in great need of an additional advanced life support ambulance to augment the current Hawaii County Fire Department's Emergency Medical Services System.  Puna has become the fastest growing district in the State, with a current population of more than 45,000 individuals and a projected population to surge to approximately 75,000 individuals within the next 15 years.

     Your Committee further finds that the ongoing lava flow has exacerbated the need to serve the nearly 10,000 residents within the projected impact area.  Critical transportation infrastructure continues to be affected, which will result in delayed emergency medical care for the residents of Puna if additional resources are not provided.  The travel time to Hilo, once the flow crosses Highway 130, is expected to increase from the current average of thirty minutes to two hours.

     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. 851, 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,

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair