Bill Text: HI SB1153 | 2021 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 1153 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Making An Emergency Appropriation To The Department Of Health For The Emergency Medical Services And Injury Prevention System Branch.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-03-23 - The committee(s) on HHH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred. [SB1153 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-SB1153-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1153
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND INJURY PREVENTION SYSTEM BRANCH.

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

SECTION 1. This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. The purpose of the state comprehensive emergency medical system that is administered and maintained by the department of health is to reduce medical emergency deaths, injuries, and permanent long-term disability through the implementation of a fully integrated, cohesive network of components. This system is fully staffed by professionals available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, on all islands.

However, the department of health has determined that various unbudgeted expenses require additional funding in order to maintain the state comprehensive emergency medical system for the general public. For the current fiscal year, there is an operational budget shortfall of approximately $6,400,000. Failure to restore the shortfall is likely to cause cuts in emergency medical services, including reduced hours of availability of ambulance services and emergency medical personnel.

The budget shortfall resulted from incomplete biennium funding for collective bargaining increases, lack of funding for other current expenses related to three new emergency medical vehicles approved in 2018, and coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic-related budget restrictions. While the department is examining several options to improve the resiliency of the statewide system, reforms will not be implemented soon enough to meet the anticipated costs for the current fiscal year.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to make an emergency appropriation to provide funds for the department of health to address collective bargaining and other current expenses related to the state comprehensive emergency medical system.

SECTION 3. 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 2020-2021 for payroll and other current expenses to address the budget shortfall for the state comprehensive emergency medical system.

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Emergency Appropriation; Department of Health

Description:

Makes an emergency appropriation to provide funds for the state comprehensive emergency medical system for expenses related to collective bargaining and other current expenses. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

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