Bill Text: HI SB298 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Emergency Medical Services; Advanced Life Support; Ambulances ($)
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Carried over to 2016 Regular Session. [SB298 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-SB298-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
298 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
PART I
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that residents of the island of Hawaii would greatly benefit from the addition of an advanced life support ambulance to augment the Hawaii county emergency medical services system for residents of the Makalei area. The population of this area has significantly increased over the years, which has corresponded with a steady increase in calls for emergency medical services.
The legislature further finds that access to primary health care in Makalei is challenging for the community. For many residents, primary care services are as many as thirty miles away. Coupled with economic and transportation challenges, emergency medical services have become the access point for health care to many residents.
Due to the lack of resources, it has become common for medics to have up to ten transports in a twenty-four hour shift. The potential for fatigue resulting in errors in judgment, driving, and overall safety are of great concern for personnel and residents.
The legislature further finds that a new advanced life support ambulance will help reduce death and disability among residents and visitors on the island of Hawaii. A timely response to a 911 call is critical to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes for injured or sick individuals. Given the island's significant growth and aging population, an advanced life support ambulance is needed and will be cost-effective.
The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for an advanced life support ambulance to be based in the Makalei area on the island of Hawaii and to be used during daily peak hours from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., including the acquisition of a vehicle and equipment, and funding personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical service personnel.
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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for an advanced life support ambulance to be:
(1) Based in Makalei on the island of Hawaii; and
(2) Used during daily peak hours from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.;
and to include the acquisition of a vehicle and equipment, and funding personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical service personnel.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.
PART II
SECTION 3. The legislature finds that Puna community residents on the island of Hawaii are in great need of an additional advanced life support ambulance to augment the current Hawaii county fire department's emergency medical services system. Puna has become the fastest growing district in the State, with a current population of more than forty-five thousand individuals and a projected population to surge to approximately seventy-five thousand individuals within the next fifteen years. Because of the economic and transportation challenges of the Puna community, the Hawaii county fire department's emergency medical services has become the access point for health care to many in Puna.
Recent analysis of Hawaii county fire department data shows that there have been approximately one hundred eighty emergency medical services incidents per month over the past five years within that area.
Currently, the Hawaii county fire department has three ambulances based at the Keaau and Pahoa fire stations, including an emergency medical services unit located at the Pahoa village fire station, which was created in anticipation of the impending lava flow inundation area.
The legislature finds that the ongoing lava flow has exacerbated the need to serve the nearly ten thousand residents within the projected impact area. Critical transportation infrastructure continues to be affected, which will result in delayed emergency medical care for the residents of Puna if additional resources are not provided. The travel time to Hilo, once the flow crosses Highway 130, is expected to increase from the current average of thirty minutes to two hours.
The legislature further finds that an additional advanced life support ambulance will help reduce death and disability among residents and visitors on the island of Hawaii. A timely response to a 911 call is critical to increase the likelihood of successful outcomes for injured or sick individuals.
The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to establish an advanced life support ambulance to be based in Puna on the island of Hawaii, including through acquiring a vehicle and equipment and funding personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the emergency medical services special fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to establish an advanced life support ambulance based in Puna on the island of Hawaii, including acquisition of a vehicle and equipment and personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.
PART III
SECTION 5. The legislature finds that the population of the area of Kakaako in the city and county of Honolulu has recently undergone a dramatic increase in population. There has been the development of numerous residential condominiums and an increase in businesses serving the residents. Correspondingly, there has been a steady and marked increase of calls for emergency medical services in the Kakaako area.
The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to the department of health for the purchase of an ambulance vehicle and the operational costs for one ambulance unit, including equipment, supplies, and personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical service personnel.
SECTION 6. 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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 for the purchase of an ambulance vehicle and the operational costs for one ambulance unit, including equipment, supplies, and personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical service personnel to service the area of Kakaako in the city and county of Honolulu.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.
PART IV
SECTION 7. The legislature finds that more emergency services are needed in the Moanalua, Aliamanu, Red Hill, Salt Lake, and Foster Village areas on the island of Oahu. As calls for emergency response services increase, a greater burden is placed on the city and county of Honolulu emergency medical services division to respond to emergency calls in these areas. This increased workload threatens the ability of the division to provide acceptable levels of emergency medical services.
Moanalua, Aliamanu, Red Hill, Salt Lake, and Foster Village are high density areas with a sizable distance between the two nearest hospital units, Kuakini Hospital in Liliha and Pali Momi Hospital in Aiea. In 2014 alone, these areas experienced 4,418 calls for emergency medical services. Callers often experience long response times, which increased from 8.46 minutes in 2011 to 9.4 minutes in 2014.
The purpose of this part is to appropriate moneys to the department of health to assist the city and county of Honolulu emergency medical services division with expanding emergency medical services and ambulance services in the above communities to operate an additional emergency medical service unit.
SECTION 8. 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 2015-2016 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2016-2017 to assist the city and county of Honolulu emergency medical services division with expanding emergency medical services and ambulance services in the Moanalua, Aliamanu, Red Hill, Salt Lake, and Foster Village communities to operate an additional emergency medical service unit.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.
PART V
SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.
Report Title:
Emergency Medical Services; Advanced Life Support; Ambulances
Description:
Appropriates funds for advanced life support ambulances based in Makalei and Puna on the island of Hawaii; an ambulance vehicle and operational costs to service Kakaako on the island of Oahu; and to operate an additional emergency medical service unit for the City and County of Honolulu. (SB298 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
