Report Title:

Emergency Medical Services

Description:

Requires DOH to monitor the need in Kauai county and inform the legislature when that county reaches a sufficient sustained level of need for an aeromedical emergency service. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2956

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

 

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

SECTION 1. In the regular session of 2003, the legislature passed S.B. No. 745, which established aeromedical emergency medical services for Maui county. The legislature hereby affirms the need for this service in Maui county, the only four-island county. S.B. No. 745 as enrolled to the Governor was vetoed, but that veto was overridden in the 2003 special session and S.B. 745 became Act 2, Session Laws of Hawaii, Special Session of 2003. The ground raised for opposition was that setting a standard of care for aeromedical emergency medical services for the State might raise a liability issue for the State for residents of counties without such services. The legislature finds that such a concern is without merit as this decision is a discretionary function of government.

The legislature finds that at present, due to a variety of factors, there is not a sufficient level of need for aeromedical emergency medical services in Kauai county. The legislature also finds that it is appropriate to have the department of health monitor the need for aeromedical emergency medical services throughout the State, and to inform the legislature when a need reaches a sufficient sustained level to require additional aeromedical emergency medical services.

SECTION 2. The department of health shall monitor the need for aeromedical emergency medical services in Kauai county and inform the legislature when that county reaches a sufficient sustained level of need for a similar service.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.