Report Title:

Mobile Medical Van; Heath Care

 

Description:

Authorizes the use of federal Homeland Security Grant Program funds to provide the people of the southern portion of the island of Hawaii with increased access to suitable emergency and clinical medical care by means of a mobile medical van based at Kona community hospital.  Effective 07/01/2050.  (SD2)

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

317

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

RELATING TO MOBILE MEDICAL CARE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  In response to the recent increase in emissions from Kilauea's newest vent at Halemaumau crater, a House Special Committee on Vog Effects was created to bring together experts to examine the effects of vog on the people of the State of Hawaii.  The Committee held a series of fact-finding meetings focusing on health and public safety, agriculture, and economic impacts and tourism.  The serious lack of hospitals and health centers in the southern portion of the island of Hawaii that is heavily impacted by vog, leaves residents of the area with little access to appropriate medical care.  The most efficient solution is to provide a mobile medical van to be stationed at and assigned to the Kona community hospital.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to provide the people of the southern portion of the island of Hawaii with increased access to suitable emergency and clinical medical care.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The Kona community hospital shall acquire a mobile medical van to be based at the Kona community hospital and shall establish a mobile medical van program to provide basic medical clinical services to South Kona, Kau, and upper Puna areas of the county of Hawaii.

     (b)  The program shall:

     (1)  Hire medical personnel to operate and staff the van;

     (2)  Establish routes and services for the areas of South Kona, Kau, and upper Puna;

     (3)  Work with the State's interagency task force and Hawaii county fire department to make the van available for situations requiring the van's service; and

     (4)  Work with the department of education to provide medical services to the schools in the indicated areas.

     SECTION 3.  There is authorized a federal fund ceiling increase of $500,000 for the department of land and natural resources to accommodate federal funds received under the Homeland Security Grant Program.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the federal funds received under the Homeland Security Grant Program the sum of $1 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009-2010 for the purchase of a mobile medical van, including necessary planning and equipment to provide medical care services in South Kona, Kau, and upper Puna on the island of Hawaii.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act; provided that no funds shall be expended until an agreement has been established with an appropriate funding agency, public or private, to provide the Kona community hospital with funding to continue the mobile medical van program for not less than an additional two years.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.