STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2746

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2618

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2618 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMBULANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an appropriation to establish and fund one advanced life support ambulance based in Makalei on the island of Hawaii, including acquisition of a vehicle, equipment, and personnel costs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Mayor for the County of Hawai‘i, Hilo Medical Center, Daniel Sayre Memorial Foundation, Hilo Medical Center Foundation, and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the population of Makalei area on the island of Hawaii has significantly increased over the years, which has corresponded with a steady increase in calls for emergency medical services. Due to the lack of resources, it has become common for paramedics to respond to as many as ten calls for emergency medical transportation during a twenty-four-hour shift. The potential for fatigue resulting in errors in judgment, driving, and overall safety are of great concern for personnel and residents. Therefore, given the significant growing and aging population on the island of Hawaii, residents of the island of Hawaii would greatly benefit from the addition of an advanced life support ambulance to augment the Hawaii County emergency medical services system for residents of the Makalei area.

Your Committee notes the importance of sustaining the operation of the new ambulance for the residents of the Makalei area in the long-term with appropriate resources and that the addition of a new ambulance to the area should not displace existing emergency medical services.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2618, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2618, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair