Report Title:

Mental Health Issues of Committed Persons; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $500,000, for each year of the fiscal biennium to the department of public safety to improve mental health services for committed persons in Hawaii prisons.  Requires two reports to the legislature.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	914
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to mental health issues of committed persons.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that mental health services in correctional facilities throughout the State of Hawaii are alarmingly inadequate and have been the subject of ongoing federal investigation.  These inadequacies have created conditions that threaten the constitutional rights of the committed persons detained therein.

     The legislature further finds that up to forty per cent of the committed persons in the State's correctional facilities are mentally ill.  A recent federal Department of Justice study found many insufficiencies including:

     (1)  Inadequate staffing, including a director of mental health services and trained mental health professionals;

     (2)  A lack of individualized treatment planning and documentation;

     (3)  A confusing and inconsistent organizational structure;

     (4)  Outdated and unused policies and procedures; and

     (5)  An inadequate access to psychiatric hospitalization.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide funds to the department of public safety to remedy the inadequacies of mental health care services to committed persons in Hawaii state correctional facilities and monitor its progress.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, and the same sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009, for improvements to the mental health care system of committed persons in state-operated correctional facilities that will address the concerns of the federal Department of Justice.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public safety for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 3.  The department of public safety shall report to the legislature by November 1, 2007, with a detailed mental health plan that addresses the federal Department of Justice's concerns.

     SECTION 4.  The department of public safety shall report to the legislature not later than twenty days prior to the commencement of the 2009 regular session with its achievements, continuing improvements and on going problems in providing the appropriate mental health care to committed persons under its jurisdiction.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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