STAND. COM. REP. NO.  51

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 370

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 370 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to repeal the requirement that an ambulance with paramedics be present at mixed martial arts events.

 

     The Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, O2 Martial Arts Academy, and one concerned individual provided testimony in support of this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the presence of an ambulance and paramedics at mixed martial arts events does not provide significant additional protections to contestants and may not be available for this purpose anyway, especially on the Neighbor Islands.  Your Committee further finds that the existing requirement provided in section 440E-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that two licensed physicians also be present at these events ensures that sufficient care is available to an injured contestant for the short duration it takes for an ambulance to arrive at the scene.

 

     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 H.B. No. 370 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair