STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3457

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 79

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.R. No. 79 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE STATE TO EXAMINE REQUIRING AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS IN ALL STATE-OWNED BUILDINGS AND PURSUE EXISTING AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR PROGRAMS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Encourage the State to examine requiring automated external defibrillators in all state-owned buildings; and

(2) Pursue existing automated defibrillator programs.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Education, State Health Planning and Development Agency, American Heart Association, and two individuals.

Your Committees find that, of the three hundred fifty thousand Americans who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year, approximately nine out of ten victims die. The chances of survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can double or even triple through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly referred to as CPR, and can further increase through the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), which analyzes a victim's heart rhythm and delivers electrical shocks to correct any detected anomalies. Your Committees recognize that, while expanding access to AEDs through their installation in state buildings would certainly strengthen the State's emergency response infrastructure, equally important is the promulgation of training to instill knowledge and confidence in the individuals who may use the AEDs. This measure will help save lives, improve community health outcomes, and demonstrate the State's commitment to public safety.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 79 and recommend its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair