STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3414

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 90

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 90 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND INJURY PREVENTION SYSTEM BRANCH TO CONVENE AND CHAIR A WORKING GROUP TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAM, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR CERTIFICATIONS, TO ALLEVIATE EMERGENCY SERVICES FROM RESPONDING TO NON-EMERGENCY CALLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the creation of a working group to develop a community paramedic program that will alleviate the burden placed on emergency services by non-emergency calls.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, University of Hawaii System, and three individuals.

     Your Committee recognizes that in 2015, the City and County of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services processed almost ninety thousand calls, many from repeat callers who called for issues requiring general assistance, not emergency services.  Your Committee finds that as the call volume rises each year and the number of ambulance stations remains the same, it is critical to develop proposals to establish community paramedic services to provide appropriate services for non-emergency callers who would otherwise use resources intended to serve individuals with emergency medical needs.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 90 and recommends its adoption.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair