A bill for an act that would hand over the duty, functions and powers of Oʻahu's emergency services system (EMS) from the state Department of Health to Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s city is moving forward.
The proposal stunned city officials.
Blangiardi clarified that his administration wasn't in objection of the move, “but didn't have time to do its due diligence before the bill was introduced,” the Hawai’i Public Radio reported. Initially, the Honolulu City Council urged legislators to oppose the bill pointing out concerns with taking on the financial responsibility that comes with the EMS system.
"We were being asked to take over a business that was running at a deficit,” Blangiardi said. “[It's] been, historically, losing $20 million a year and all we were doing is asking the prudent due diligence questions, so we could best understand and ensure, for ourselves, that we have the proper party to make the decisions we need to run that business."
House Bill 1281 proposes the Oʻahu's EMS system transition starting this July. According to the language of the bill, it “appropriates moneys in the emergency medical services special fund to the City and County of Honolulu for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.” It also "phases out funding from general revenues for emergency medical services in the City and County of Honolulu before July 1, 2024."
The news outlet also reported that the state would give the City and County of Honolulu $46 million in operational expenses for the first year.
At present, Hawaiʻi is the only state in the country that controls the EMS of its counties.