STAND. COM. REP. NO. 572

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 905

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 905 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMBULANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to:

(1) Purchase an advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in the Central Maui area of the County of Maui; and

(2) Increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; one member of the Maui County Council; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that in the County of Maui there are a total of nine ambulances to serve the entire county, with one unit each in East Maui, Kahului, and Wailuku and two units each in South Maui, West Maui, and Upcountry Maui. Your Committee further finds that as the result of significant population growth, the Central Maui region would benefit from the addition of an advanced life support ambulance, which will help reduce death and disability among residents and visitors by providing timely responses to 911 calls.

Your Committee notes the Department of Health's recommendation in their written testimony before your Committee suggesting consideration of alternative service models such as mobile integrated health or community paramedicine programs, which are designed to address emergency and non-emergency needs at a potentially lower cost that could ensure the long-term sustainability and efficiency of emergency medical services, particularly in underserved areas.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,750,000 for the increase of available air ambulance services.

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 H.B. No. 905, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 905, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair