CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 239-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 3203

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 3203, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Statewide Air Medical Services Program within the Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Systems Branch to coordinate and strengthen air medical services;

(2) Establish the positions of an air medical director, air medical program manager, and air medical coordinator; and

(3) Specify that annual licensure and accreditation fees are to be deposited into the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund for costs of the program.

Your Committee on Conference finds that air medical services are an essential component of the State's health care delivery system, emergency medical systems of care, and overall health care infrastructure. Due to the State's geographic isolation and multi‑island structure, prevalence of rural and remote communities, and limited access to specialty and tertiary care on neighbor islands, timely access to emergency air medical and interfacility air medical transport is critical to ensuring equitable, lifesaving care for residents and visitors across the State. Your Committee on Conference further finds that while demand for emergency and interfacility air medical transport has continued to increase, the State currently lacks permanent, dedicated resources within the Department of Health to comprehensively monitor, manage, coordinate, and develop this critical component of the emergency medical services system. By establishing statutory authority, dedicated staffing, and sustainable funding mechanisms, this measure enables the Department of Health to begin systematically improving coordination, efficiency, equity, and outcomes for air medical resources across all islands.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3203, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3203, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Chair
____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair