STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1502-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2934

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2934, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMBULANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the purchase of an advanced life support ambulance and related equipment, to be based in the Central Maui area of the County of Maui, and fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; State Health Planning and Development Agency; one member of the Maui County Council; American Medical Response; and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that statewide 911 EMS data clearly demonstrates that Maui County is experiencing sustained and increasing demand for emergency medical services, particularly in the Central Maui region, with thirty-four percent of all EMS responses for Maui County originating from Central Maui. Your Committee further finds that because of the county's geographic challenges and the presence of remote and rural areas that are not within close proximity to acute care hospitals, response times to 911 calls across Maui County are typically slower than the Department of Health's quality benchmarks and that transport times are almost ten minutes longer than the national EMS benchmark. This measure seeks to reduce death and disability among residents and visitors to Central Maui by providing funds for an advanced life support ambulance, which will ensure timely responses to 911 calls.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,750,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2934, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2934, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair