STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3097

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  S.C.R. No. 210
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 210 entitled:

     "SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
     HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE'S
     CONSULTANT ON THE PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AT THE
     HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
Health (DOH) to implement the recommendations of the
legislature's consultant on the provision of mental health
services at the Hawaii State Hospital (HSH).

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the HGEA-AFSCME.  Testimony in opposition was received from
the DOH.

     Pursuant to the stipulated settlement agreement and court
order with the United States to correct alleged deficiencies at
the HSH in a lawsuit by the Department of Justice, the DOH is in
the process of downsizing the HSH and transferring patients to
community care facilities.  To evaluate the advisability of this
plan, the legislature hired Dr. H. Richard Lamb, a well-known and
well-respected psychiatrist and noted expert in the provision of
mental health services.

     Dr. Lamb submitted a report commenting, among other things,
that the State should have three levels of treatment for the

 
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mentally ill:  the HSH, intermediate care facilities, and
community-based care.  This measure asks the DOH to adopt a
comprehensive plan that ensures that appropriate levels of care
are being provided to mentally ill persons, using Dr. Lamb's
recommendations as a guideline.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting a WHEREAS clause referencing the court's
          finding of contempt;

     (2)  Clarifying that the deficiencies at the HSH are
          alleged, for accuracy;

     (3)  Clarifying that Dr. Lamb made comments, rather than
          findings, conclusions, and recommendations, for
          accuracy; 

     (4)  Deleting the two WHEREAS clauses referencing the
          Olmstead case; and

     (5)  Clarifying in the last two WHEREAS clauses that the
          legislature "suggests" rather than "finds", to express
          correctly the intent.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of
S.C.R. No. 210, as amended herein, and recommends that it be
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached
hereto as S.C.R. No. 210, S.D. 1.

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



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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