STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3030

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3126

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3126, S.D. 1, 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 improve access to emergency aeromedical services on the neighbor islands.

More specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes an Emergency Aeromedical Services Partnership Program to be administered by the Department of Health in counties having populations of less than five hundred thousand;

(2) Requires revenue-sharing and cost-sharing for program operations and maintenance costs between the State and the Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui; and

(3) Authorizes deposits into the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Pacific Health, Global Medical Response, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that providing the neighbor islands with greater access to emergency aeromedical services will help improve health care and health outcomes, especially for residents in medically-underserved rural areas of the State.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3126, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair