STAND. COM. REP. NO. 748

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 971

       S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 971, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to change the means of funding for the statewide emergency medical system.

     More specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Repeals the emergency medical services special fund;

     (2)  Redirects the fund's revenue sources to the general fund; and

     (3)  Appropriates general funds to support the statewide emergency medical system.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from Hana Health.

     Your Committee finds that anti-smoking campaigns have contributed to the decline in cigarette use in Hawaii.  The decline in cigarette purchases, however, has also led to a decline in cigarette tax revenues and associated deposits to the emergency medical services special fund.  Your Committee believes that repealing the emergency medical services special fund, redirecting the fund's revenue sources to the general fund, and making general fund appropriations for the programs funded by the emergency medical services special fund will promote more prudent budgeting of emergency medical system expenses and provide a more stable means of funding.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1)  Changing the amount appropriated for the statewide comprehensive emergency medical services system for fiscal years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 from $14,796,503 to an unspecified sum; and

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

     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. 971, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 971, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair