Bill-signing fixes Maui
air ambulance snag
Gov. Linda Lingle cleared the way yesterday for the state to set up an emergency air ambulance service for Maui County.
Lingle, who is on Maui this week, signed Senate Bill 3156, CD1, during her weekly morning radio show aired from the Queen Kaahumanu Center.
The bill grants the state immunity from lawsuits for not providing emergency air ambulance service for Kauai, which does not have an air ambulance.
According to the new law, "The decision to establish or not establish emergency aeromedical services in any county or counties is viewed as a discretionary function of government and, as such, the State is immune from liability."
The concern is that a victim or the family of someone injured on Kauai might sue the state if the lack of an air ambulance on Kauai resulted in a death or greater injury because of a delay in reaching the hospital.
Hawaii County already has emergency air ambulance service and at least two hospitals that can handle emergency trauma cases; military helicopters provide emergency ambulance service on Oahu; and Kauai has two hospitals that can handle emergency cases brought to them by ground ambulances.
Maui Memorial Hospital is the only medical facility that can handle emergency trauma cases for Maui, Lanai and Molokai.
State lawmakers approved legislation last year to set up an emergency air ambulance program and appropriated $611,500 for Maui County.
Lingle vetoed the bill, citing possible liability because the service would be established only on Maui, and withheld the funding. Lawmakers overrode her veto in a special session.
In January, Lingle promised to release the funds if lawmakers fixed the law to protect the state from liability.
The money will be released July 1 and will be matched by an equal amount from Maui County to set up the program. The county is also providing funding for the ground crew.
Star-Bulletin reporter Nelson Daranciang and the Associated Press contributed to this report.