STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1364
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: S.B. No. 390
S.D. 1
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to repeal the sunset date of section 2 of Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, and make permanent the ability of the Hawaii Medical Board to issue licenses for emergency medical responders and other emergency ambulance personnel, based on certain requirements.
Your Committee finds
that Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, as amended by Act 65, Session Laws of
Hawaii 2022, temporarily established a licensure category for emergency medical
technicians who only have a National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician
certification. These emergency medical
technicians provide life-saving care with minimal equipment to critical care
patients. This measure makes permanent
the requirement that the Hawaii Medical Board issue licenses in four levels of
emergency response practice and the establishment of an additional licensure
category for emergency medical technicians who are certified at a higher
practice level than emergency medical technicians but do not provide ambulance
services.
Your Committee further finds that
the development of an emergency medical response workforce is critical to the
resilience and peace of mind of the State's residents. Part of the development of an adequate
emergency medical response is ensuring the availability of appropriate
emergency medical response vehicles, including air ambulances.
Accordingly,
your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Appropriating an unspecified sum to increase
the predictability and stability of the State's air ambulance services for all
islands; provided that all funds be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the
counties;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000,
to encourage further discussion; and
(3) 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 & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, 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 & Homelessness,
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____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair |