STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1425
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: H.C.R. No. 156
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2004
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 156 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND POSSIBLE STATUTORY AND OTHER CHANGES TO DELIVER PROMPT AND APPROPRIATE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO THOSE COMMITTED TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL UNDER CHAPTER 704, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the Department of Health (DOH) convene a working group to evaluate and recommend possible statutory and other changes for prompt delivery of appropriate mental health treatment to persons committed to the Hawaii State Hospital.
The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Government Employees Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill-Oahu, and Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association supported this measure. DOH supported the intent of this concurrent resolution. The Judiciary and a concerned individual provided comments.
Your Committee finds that it may take several months to obtain a court order for involuntary medication if an individual is committed to the State Hospital by the criminal court and arrives without authorization for psychotropic medication.
Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:
(1) Including all state-operated or contracted facilities and removing specific references to the Hawaii State Hospital;
(2) Making reference to chapter 334, Hawaii Revised Statutes, pertaining to involuntary civil commitment by family court;
(3) Adding members to the working group;
(4) Changing its title to read "REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND POSSIBLE STATUTORY AND OTHER CHANGES TO STREAMLINE AND EXPEDITE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO PERSONS COMMITTED TO STATE-OPERATED OR -CONTRACTED FACILITIES"; and
(5) Making other technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 156, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 156, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |
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