Report Title:

Emergency Appropriation for the Adult Mental Health Division

Description:

To authorize an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2007-2008 of $9,065,000 from general funds to the Department of Health (DOH), for the Adult Mental Health Division (AMHD).  (HB3146 HD2)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	3146
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR THE ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION.

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

     SECTION 1.  This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii Constitution.

     SECTION 2.  Although funds were appropriated to the department of health for adult mental health services for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, a critical funding emergency now exists.  The program will expend all appropriated funds before the end of the current fiscal year, and the department will be unable to meet its fiscal obligation to provide services to certain adults with severe mental illness.

     The adult mental health division serves a continuously increasing number of eligible mental health consumers.  Concurrently throughout the year, the adult mental health division has increased its related services in the areas of case management, crisis services, treatment services, rehabilitation services, and housing.  This emergency increase is to continue existing services to meet the needs of the expanding eligible population and to continue funding of required services developed during the fiscal year.

     An emergency appropriation is also needed as the one-time Medicaid Rehab Option retroactive billing opportunity has passed, resulting in a deficit in federal matching funds.  Additional emergency funding is also required to address higher operational costs at the Hawaii state hospital as a result of an increased census.

     The purpose of this Act is to appropriate emergency funds for:

(1)  The ongoing services revenue shortfall of the adult mental health division; and

(2)  Operational costs at the Hawaii state hospital.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $9,065,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008 for the revenue shortfall for ongoing services provided by the adult mental health division, and operational costs at the Hawaii state hospital.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.