STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1426

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1426 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services; and

(2) Appropriate funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Association, American Medical Response, and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing aeromedical services system is overburdened. Your Committee further finds that the State is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical provider and that emergency aeromedical services are not available for many patients in rural counties and areas. This measure expands emergency aeromedical medical services based on the Maui cost-sharing MedEvac model to allow more patients to receive prompt, quality medical care and reduce the stressful and costly burdens of air travel placed upon patients and their loved ones.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making appropriations for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, rather than fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 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 and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1426, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1426, 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