STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1752

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1752 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to remove the Adjutant General and add the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the state Department of Defense and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that this measure is a practical and pragmatic step to keep the State's emergency response system aligned with today's realities. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) is the state agency that coordinates statewide emergency management and disaster response, including medical services. Including HI-EMA on the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee ensures that policy decisions about emergency medical services are informed by those who manage the overall emergency framework for the State. This small but significant change would improve coordination during disasters and streamline planning.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1752 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,

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DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair