STAND. COM. REP. NO. 259

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1245

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1245 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 the Department of Health for the purchase of one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in Central Maui, and to fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Maui County Council, American Medical Response, and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.

Your Committee finds that in Maui County, ambulance services are contractually provided through state funding. There are a total of nine ambulances based at various state, county, and private facilities throughout Maui County. Your Committee further finds that Central Maui continues to experience population growth and that residents would greatly benefit from the addition of an advanced life support ambulance. This measure ensures Maui County residents continue to receive low response times to 911 calls, which is critical to increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes for injured or sick individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(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.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce and your Committee on Finance, should they deliberate on this measure, to consider whether cost sharing with the counties for ongoing expenses would be appropriate. Your Committee further respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,600,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1245, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1245, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair