STAND. COM. REP. NO. 118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 830

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 830 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require each Department of Education school to establish a critical medical emergency response team; and

(2) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Action Group, Caring for Hawai‘i Neonates, and sixteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that in critical medical emergencies, every second counts. Long-term injury, brain damage, and even death can occur within a few minutes of an emergency situation. Presently, while the Department of Education has basic emergency response guidance, there is a gap between the guidance provided to "administer first aid" and the training and preparedness of personnel in the case of an unforeseen critical medical emergency. This measure would ensure all Department of Education students, faculty, and staff receive critical emergency assistance when responding to unforeseen emergencies, by requiring the appointment of critical emergency response team members and establishment of response procedures.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that all department schools under the Department of Education shall establish a critical emergency response team;

(2) Clarifying that the complex area superintendent shall provide support for corrective action plans;

(3) Inserting language that exempts persons who act in accordance with the requirements of this measure from any civil or criminal liabilities, except under certain conditions; and

(4) 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 830, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 830, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair