STAND. COM. REP. NO. 45

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.B. No. 214

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 214 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow emergency medical personnel who have successfully completed National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification to be qualified to perform emergency medical services as emergency medical technicians in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council, Honolulu Fire Department, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board and one individual.

Your Committee finds that existing statutory language regulating emergency medical technicians does not address individuals such as firefighters and ocean safety lifeguards who have successfully completed National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification but are not currently working on an ambulance. Your Committee further finds that allowing such individuals to be deemed qualified to perform emergency medical services as emergency medical technicians will create a more robust and resilient system by increasing the number of emergency medical technicians who can provide care during times of urgent need, including during disaster response.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2060, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 214, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 214, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair