Report Title:

Ambulance Service; Haiku, Maui; Molokai; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates $        in FY 2008-2009 for ambulance service in the Haiku region of Maui and $       for the island of Molokai.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2789

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

making an appropriation for ambulance service for the COUNTY OF MAUI.

 

 

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

 


Part I

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the protection and preservation of the health of Hawaii's people is a matter of compelling state interest.  Emergency ambulance services, available twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, can help reduce medical emergency deaths, injuries, and permanent long-term disability and are a key component of the state comprehensive emergency medical services system.

     The Haiku region of Maui is located at the northern tip of the island of Maui and lacks twenty-four-hour, locally based, advanced life support ambulance service.  The nearest ambulance service is located in Makawao, which is forty-five minutes away and the next closest is in Hana, a full ninety minutes away.  Both wait times are unacceptably long and endanger the health of residents of the Haiku region of Maui.

     The purpose of this part is to ensure parity in emergency health care for residents and visitors of the Haiku region of Maui by providing twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance service.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance service for the Haiku district on the island of Maui.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

Part II

     SECTION 3.  The legislature finds that the protection and preservation of the health of Hawaii's people is a matter of compelling state interest.  Emergency ambulance services, available twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, can help reduce medical emergency deaths, injuries, and permanent long-term disability and are a key component of the state comprehensive emergency medical services system.

     The island of Molokai is a remote island location and lacks twenty-four-hour, locally based, advanced life support ambulance service.  The legislature finds that this lack endangers the health of residents of the island of Molokai.

     The purpose of this part is to ensure parity in emergency health care for residents and visitors of the island of Molokai by providing twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance service.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for twenty-four-hour advanced life support ambulance service for the island of Molokai.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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