STAND. COM. REP. NO. 154

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1153

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 1153 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND INJURY PREVENTION SYSTEM BRANCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to provide funds for the state comprehensive emergency medical system for expenses related to collective bargaining and other current expenses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Maui County Paramedics Association, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Department of Health experienced an operational budget shortfall of $6,400,000. Your Committee further finds that an emergency appropriation is necessary to maintain comprehensive emergency medical services for the residents and visitors in the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu for fiscal year 2020-2021.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1153, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1153, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair