A new study ranks Hawai'i in the middle of states in terms of its preparedness for public health disasters.

The annual report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was released yesterday. It says Hawai'i was among 11 states that met seven of 10 criteria on which the scores are based.

The study said Hawai'i officials failed to provide weekly counts of available hospital beds to a national database, and did not increase or maintain spending on public health programs.

It also says Hawai'i has not enacted laws that reduce or limit legal liability for businesses or nonprofit groups that serve in a public health emergency.

Twelve states and the District of Columbia met eight of the criteria; seven others met nine criteria.