CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 170

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: S.B. No. 281

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 281, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to maintain the current level of pre-hospital emergency medical services;

(2) Require the Department of Health, through a contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to conduct a study of the state medical emergency system to identify issues and problems and propose initiatives to improve the system; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the Department of Health to contract with the NHTSA to conduct a study of the state medical emergency system.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the state comprehensive emergency medical system, also known as the state emergency medical system, is an integral piece of health care access throughout the State. Funds appropriated in this measure for collective bargaining requirements, recurring personnel costs, and other current expenditures are necessary to maintain the current level of pre-hospital emergency medical services. Your Committee on Conference further finds that by partnering with the NHTSA to conduct a study to identify any issues with or areas of improvement for the state emergency medical system, the Department of Health will ensure continuous quality improvement for the state emergency medical system.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Correcting references to the state emergency medical system;

(2) Requiring the Department of Health to establish a steering committee to develop guidelines for an evaluation of the state emergency medical system;

(3) Clarifying the requirements for the study of the state emergency medical system, including:

(A) Requiring the Department of Health to contract with the NHTSA no later than September 30, 2019;

(B) Clarifying the purpose of the study; and

(C) Requiring the Department of Health to invite a NHTSA representative to brief members of the Legislature on the study findings;

(4) Permitting the Department of Health to establish a task force to develop a plan to implement findings and recommendations from the NHTSA study and report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature;

(5) Removing the appropriation for the Department of Health to contract with the NHTSA;

(6) Amending the scope and inserting specific appropriation amounts for collective bargaining requirements, recurring personnel costs, and other current expenses of the state emergency medical system;

(7) Removing a reference to Keo's Law;

(8) Updating the purpose section;

(9) Making this measure effective upon approval; provided that the appropriation sections shall take effect on July 1, 2019; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 281, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 281, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO Co-Chair	____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER Chair
____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE Co-Chair	____________________________ GILBERT S.C. KEITH-AGARAN Co-Chair