STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1298

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1245

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1245, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMBULANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in central Maui and fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, one member of the Maui County Council, American Medical Response, Maui County Paramedics Association, Global Medical Response, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that despite the substantial population increase in central Maui, the area has only one ambulance unit providing emergency medical services to residents. Providing timely response to a 911 call is critical to increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes for injured or sick individuals. The advanced life support ambulance, equipment, and medical service personnel funded by this measure will help reduce death and disability among residents of and visitors to central Maui by facilitating timely responses to calls for emergency medical services.

Your Committee acknowledges the testimony of the Department of Health requesting a separate appropriation amount to establish a more robust and resilient air ambulance network system within the State, including procurement of a helicopter to transport patients between all islands of the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation to the Department of Health to increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

Your Committee notes that although this measure contains unspecified appropriation amounts, should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider appropriating:

(1) $1,500,000 for the purchase of one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in the central Maui area, and to fund pay-related personnel costs for one state-certified emergency medical technician and one state-certified paramedic for fiscal year 2023-2024;

(2) $1,600,000 for the purchase of one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in the central Maui area, and to fund pay-related personnel costs for one state-certified emergency medical technician and one state-certified paramedic for fiscal year 2024-2025; and

(3) $10,000,000 to establish a more robust and resilient air ambulance network system within the State, including procurement of a helicopter to transport patients between all islands of the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1245, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1245, H.D. 1, 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 and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair