STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1240-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3126

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health & Homelessness and Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 3126, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an emergency aeromedical services partnership program administered by the Department of Health in partnership with rural counties.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; Hawaii Health Systems Corporation – West Hawaii Region; one member of the Maui County Council; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Hawaiʻi Fire Department; Maui Fire Department; The Queen's Health System; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Global Medical Response; Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai; Kohala Coast Resort Association; Mauna Kea Resort; Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union; Friends of First Responders; Save Medicaid Hawaii; Indivisible Hawai‘i Healthcare Team; and numerous individuals. Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the County of Kaua‘i.

Your Committees find that the State is currently serviced by a single private sector air ambulance provider. Although commercial airlines sometimes transport patients, the commercial carriers are not equipped for advanced life support patients. As a result, if the private air ambulance service is not operational, there are few transportation options available for sick patients. Your Committees further find that a partnership that would share the cost of an air ambulance, such as the one between the Department of Health and the County of Maui, is one means of improving emergency aeromedical services in the State. Your Committees believe that implementing the Maui model across the State will increase the availability of aeromedical transport to all the State's residents. Your Committees note that, excluding the initial cost of purchasing a suitable air ambulance vehicle, the yearly cost of operating one air ambulance unit would be approximately $4,000,000.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health & Homelessness and Transportation that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3126, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3126, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health & Homelessness and Transportation,

____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair