STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1516

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 81
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and
Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 81 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A
     TASK FORCE TO DETERMINE ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AND
     RECOMMEND SYSTEMIC CHANGES FOR THE PROPER TREATMENT OF
     INDIVIDUALS NEEDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the
convening of a task force to determine alternatives to
incarceration and recommend systemic changes for the proper
treatment of individuals needing mental health services.

     T. J. Mahoney & Associates, United Self-Help, the Oahu Head
Start Program, I Am Free Foundation, the Salvation Army Hilo/Kona
Interim Homes, NAMI Oahu, the Hawaii Human Development Corp., the
Community Alliance on Prisons, and members of the public
testified in support of this measure.  Hawaii Psychiatric
Association testified in support of this measure with suggested
amendments.  The Department of Public Safety and the American
Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, testified in support of the
intent of this measure with concerns.  The Department of Health
and Health Care for the Homeless Project submitted comments on
this measure.

     Your Committees find that the creation of a task force to
address the mental health needs of offenders is a good step
toward a long-term solution.

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1516
                                 Page 2

 

     Your Committees have amended this concurrent resolution by
expanding the membership of the task force to include
representatives from:

     (1)  The Chair of the Hawaii Paroling Authority;

     (2)  NAMI Oahu;

     (3)  The United Self-Help;

     (4)  Health Care for the Homeless Project; and

     (5)  Helping Hands Hawaii.

     Your Committees would like to further encourage the
Departments of Public Safety and Health to send a representative
with the necessary medical knowledge, such as psychiatrists,
psychologist, psychiatric nurses, or clinical social workers.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your
Committees on Public Safety and Military Affairs and Health that
are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the
intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 81, as amended herein, and
recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the
form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 81, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committees on Public Safety
                                   and Military Affairs and
                                   Health,

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   
______________________________     ______________________________
ALEXANDER C. SANTIAGO, Chair       NESTOR GARCIA, Chair