STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2426

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2934

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 Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2934 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AMBULANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to:

(1) Purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in central Maui;

(2) Fund pay-related personnel costs for state‑certified emergency medical services personnel; and

(3) Increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Health Planning and Development Agency, one member of the Maui County Council, American Medical Response, and twenty-six individuals.

Your Committee finds that it is of critical importance to the State to ensure its residents have prompt access to primary health care. Your Committee further finds that Central Maui, which is currently facing substantial population growth, lacks an advanced life support ambulance, leading to slower response times in medical emergencies, increasing risks of preventable death or long‑term disability. This measure provides immediate financial support for additional ground ambulance resources in Central Maui.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds to increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State, to focus the funding in this measure on all Emergency Medical Service ground ambulance for Central Maui;

(2) Amending section 1 to reflect its amended purpose; and

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

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair