STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2991

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1874

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1874, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish a twenty-four-hour, seven-days-a-week, rapid response emergency medical services unit, including personnel, equipment, and operational expenses for the County of Kauai.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Kauai Fire Department; Wilcox Memorial Hospital; United Public Workers, Local 646; Hawaii Pacific Health; and ten individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committees find that pre-hospital emergency medical response has been increasing due to Kauai's population growth, aging demographic, and increase in households and visitors.  The last time a new emergency medical services ambulance unit was added to Kauai was in 1992, immediately after Hurricane Iniki.  This measure will significantly add to the level of care for Kauai visitors and residents, as faster response times during emergencies are critical in increasing the likelihood of good outcomes for sick or injured individuals.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1874, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair