STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3029

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2521

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2521, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Exempt emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements;

(2) Require federal, state, and county firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement officers to maintain proof that they have successfully completed an agency approved or other state approved training on authorized emergency vehicles;

(3) Amend the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" under State Traffic Code to replace ambulances with emergency medical services vehicles; and

(4) Expand the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to include disaster response and recovery vehicles and Department of Health vehicles.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; Department of Health; Department of Human Resources of the City and County of Honolulu; Honolulu Emergency Services Department; and United Public Workers AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that there is currently a shortage of drivers with commercial driver's licenses. Requiring emergency medical services personnel to satisfy commercial driver's license requirements erects an administrative barrier that hinders the recruitment and retention of these essential first responders. This measure will exempt emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements, streamlining regulations for emergency responders while maintaining the high standards of safety that the public expects and deserves.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2521, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair