STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2778

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3091

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3091 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 authorize the Hawaii Medical Board to certify emergency medical technicians other than emergency ambulance services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department, Kaua‘i Fire Department, Maui Fire Department, Honolulu Emergency Services Department of the City and County of Honolulu, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board.

Your Committee finds that emergency medical technicians are an integral component of Hawaii's emergency medical system. Emergency medical technicians are expected to respond and are being dispatched by the State's 911 system to provide emergency medical care. Despite this, existing law only certifies emergency ambulance personnel and not emergency medical technicians who have completed a certification at the national level. Your Committee believes that the State should have some degree of oversight regarding training and performance by emergency medical technicians to better ensure the safety of the public. This measure will supply the State with additional emergency medical responders by requiring the Hawaii Medical Board to certify emergency medical technicians who have completed the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3091 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair