Bill Text: HI SB281 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Relating To The Department Of Health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-12 - Act 060, 06/07/2019 (Gov. Msg. No. 1161). [SB281 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB281-Amended.html

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

281

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2

 

C.D. 1

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the department of health is responsible for administering and maintaining the state comprehensive emergency medical services system, or state emergency medical system, by planning, coordinating, and providing assistance to all public and private entities and agencies involved in the state emergency medical system.  This administration and maintenance ensures that all emergency services, including ground and air ambulance services conducted by or under the authorization of the department of health or any county, are consistent with part XVIII, chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     The state emergency medical system provides for the arrangement of personnel, facilities, and equipment, primarily in the pre-hospital setting, for the effective and coordinated delivery of health care services under emergency conditions, regardless of whether the emergency condition occurs as a result of the patient's condition, natural disasters, or other causes.  The state emergency medical system also provides personnel, personnel training, communications, emergency transportation, facilities, coordination with emergency medical and critical care services, coordination and use of available public safety agencies, promotion of consumer participation, accessibility to care, mandatory standard medical recordkeeping, consumer information and education, independent review and evaluation, disaster linkage, mutual aid agreements, and other components necessary to meet the purposes of the state emergency medical system.

     The department of health is responsible for establishing standards for emergency medical services and for emergency medical service systems consistent with the state emergency medical system and applicable federal guidelines for these services, and the regulation of ambulances within the State, including the certification of vehicles, equipment, supplies, and communication systems.

     The state emergency medical services advisory committee is administratively attached to the department of health to serve in an advisory capacity to the department of health on all matters relating to the state emergency medical system.  The department of health, in consultation with the state emergency medical services advisory committee, is responsible for determining the levels of emergency medical services that are implemented in each county and is authorized to contract to provide emergency services, including emergency aeromedical services or any necessary component of a county emergency services system, in accordance with the state emergency medical system.  The department of health is also responsible for establishing reasonable fees for services rendered to the public by the department of health, any county, or a private agency.  To fulfill the duties of the emergency medical services and injury prevention system branch, it is imperative that the department of health strive to ensure that the state emergency medical system is efficiently maintained and effectively provides emergency services.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of health, under the guidance of a steering committee, to contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a study of the state emergency medical system to identify any issues and problems with the system, highlight progress, and propose initiatives to improve the functioning of the system;

     (2)  Establish a task force to develop a plan to implement findings and recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for state emergency medical system expenses.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of health shall establish a steering committee to develop guidelines for an evaluation of the statewide comprehensive emergency medical services system.  The steering committee shall be chaired by the director of health or the director's designee and shall include:

     (1)  The chair of the emergency medical services advisory council;

     (2)  A representative from a private ambulance services company;

     (3)  A representative from the Hawaii county fire department;

     (4)  A representative from the city and county of Honolulu emergency services department; and

     (5)  Other representatives at the discretion of the director.

     (b)  The department of health shall contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration no later than September 30, 2019, to conduct a study of the state emergency medical system.  The purpose of the study is to identify any issues and problems with the system, highlight progress, and propose initiatives to improve the functioning of the system.  The department of health shall submit a written report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.  In addition, the department of health shall invite a representative of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study team to brief the members of the senate standing committee on commerce, consumer protection, and health, house of representatives standing committee on health, and other interested legislators once the written report is finalized.

     SECTION 3.  (a)  The department of health may establish a task force to develop a plan to implement certain findings and recommendations from the written report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study.  The task force shall be chaired by the director of health or the director's designee and shall include:

     (1)  Members of the steering committee established by the department of health pursuant to section 2 of this Act;

     (2)  One representative each from the city and county of Honolulu, Hawaii county, Kauai county, and Maui county;

     (3)  A physician specializing in emergency medicine;

     (4)  A physician specializing in trauma medicine;

     (5)  A member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate; and

     (6)  A member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

     (b)  The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a plan to implement findings and recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2021.

     (c)  The task force shall be dissolved on June 30, 2021.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $11,872,596 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 for program ID HTH 730 EMSIPSB to meet the collective bargaining requirements and recurring personnel costs for service providers contracted to provide pre-hospital emergency medical services necessary to maintain the current level of pre-hospital emergency medical services.

     SECTION 5.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,381,815 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2019-2020 for program ID HTH 730 EMSIPSB to meet other current expenses.

     SECTION 6.  The sums appropriated in sections 4 and 5 shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that sections 4, 5, and 6 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.



 

Report Title:

Department of Health; Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services; State Emergency Medical System; Steering Committee; Task Force; Study; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for collective bargaining requirements for ambulance providers and other current expenses.  Requires the Department of Health to contract with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the guidance of a steering committee to conduct a study of the State Emergency Medical System.  Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a task force to develop a plan to implement findings and recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's study and any proposed legislation.  (CD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

 

 

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