STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1883

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 390

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the sunset date of section 2 of Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, and make permanent the ability of the Hawaii Medical Board to issue licenses for emergency medical responders and other emergency ambulance personnel, based on certain requirements; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Health, to be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by the counties, to increase the predictability and stability of the State's air ambulance services for all islands.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Board. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the purpose of Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 119), was to establish a licensure category in the City and County of Honolulu for emergency medical technicians who only have a certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. These emergency medical technicians provide life-saving care with minimal equipment to critical care patients. Your Committee further finds that Act 65, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, expanded the new licensure category established by Act 119 to all counties. Your Committee also finds that this new licensure category ensures that residents of the State have the appropriate care and, therefore, the new licensure category should be made permanent. This measure carries out this intent.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriation;

(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 390, S.D. 1, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair