SB 1426: RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

Current Status:

Failed

(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

Appropriates funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services. Appropriates funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Version:

SB1426 SD1

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1426
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that most rural communities in the State have fewer health care resources compared to communities on Oahu, including access to advanced levels of trauma care, medical specialists, and sub-specialists. This puts patients in these areas at greater risk of poor outcomes for serious medical conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and traumatic bodily injuries.

The legislature further finds that the existing aeromedical services system is overburdened. The State is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical provider, for which there are few viable and cost-effective alternatives in the event of a grounding, for example, due to maintenance issues or crew availability. Emergency aeromedical services are not available for many patients in rural counties and areas.

The legislature further finds that one model to improve emergency aeromedical services could be based on the county of Maui's medevac service model. Act 2, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, appropriated general funds for the provision of emergency aeromedical helicopter services for the county of Maui. Act 213, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, appropriated general funds for a replacement helicopter for the county of Maui aeromedical emergency medical services program. The department of health cost-shares a helicopter with the county of Maui and contracts with a private entity to provide staff and operate the helicopter for emergency aeromedical services.

The legislature further finds that the department of health has the authority to establish emergency aeromedical services but lacks sufficient resources to implement the Maui model in other rural counties. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to increase the availability of emergency aeromedical services.

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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to assist the counties, other than the county of Kalawao, to increase access to emergency aeromedical services, to be allocated as follows:

(1) $ to the city and county of Honolulu;

(2) $ to the county of Maui;

(3) $ to the county of Hawaii; and

(4) $ to the county of Kauai.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by each county for the purposes of this Act.

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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the emergency medical services special fund.

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 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services, including the procurement of helicopters.

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

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.

Report Title:

DOH; Counties; Emergency Aeromedical Services; Emergency Medical Services Special Fund; Appropriations

Description:

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

SB1426

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1426
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

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

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 2026-2027 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2027-2028 to assist the counties, other than the county of Kalawao, to increase access to emergency aeromedical services, to be allocated as follows:

(1) $__________ to the city and county of Honolulu;

(2) $__________ to the county of Maui;

(3) $__________ to the county of Hawaii; and

(4) $__________ to the county of Kauai.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by each county for the purposes of this Act.

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 2026-2027 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2027-2028 to be deposited into the emergency medical services special fund.

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 2026-2027 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2027-2028 for the establishment of and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services, including the procurement of helicopters.

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

SECTION 5. This Act, upon its approval, shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

DOH; Emergency Aeromedical Services; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to expand access to emergency aeromedical services.

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

Date	Status
Dec 8, 2025	Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Feb 13, 2025	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Feb 13, 2025	Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 419) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Feb 3, 2025	The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Jan 31, 2025	The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Jan 27, 2025	Referred to HHS, WAM.
Jan 23, 2025	Introduced and passed First Reading.
Jan 21, 2025	Pending Introduction.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Feb 3, 2025	The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services	5 0 0 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
American Medical Response	** Support
Department of Health	** Support
Department of Health	*** Support	Feb 3, 2025
Hawaii Health Systems Corporation	** Support
Hawaii Medical Association	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1426

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1426 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services; and

(2) Appropriate funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii Medical Association, American Medical Response, and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that the existing aeromedical services system is overburdened. Your Committee further finds that the State is currently served by only one statewide aeromedical provider and that emergency aeromedical services are not available for many patients in rural counties and areas. This measure expands emergency aeromedical medical services based on the Maui cost-sharing MedEvac model to allow more patients to receive prompt, quality medical care and reduce the stressful and costly burdens of air travel placed upon patients and their loved ones.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making appropriations for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, rather than fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028;

(2) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1426, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1426, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Feb 3, 2025	SB1426_TESTIMONY_HHS_02-03-25_.PDF

Authors shown for version:
SB1426_SD1 (2/12/2025)