Report Title:

Public Health; Funding for Comprehensive State Drug Policy Study

Description:

Appropriates funding for a state drug policy study in order to provide the legislature with information to develop a comprehensive drug policy.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1119
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to public health

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

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that developing and implementing an effective and comprehensive drug policy is vital to improving the health and safety of the citizens of the State.

Drug addiction is a public health issue and accurate data to develop effective and fiscally responsible policies have not been available.  Drug issues intersect with many other issues in the community, including homelessness, violence in the home, after-school programs, incarceration, property crime, health care, employment, foster care, and judiciary costs.

     The complexity of the problem and the number of state and county departments responsible for implementing programs has resulted in conflicting and ineffective plans of action among the various agencies. 

     The development of a comprehensive state drug policy should be based on accurate data and an assessment of the effectiveness of current programs, including contracting an independent public policy research organization to provide information to the legislature.  The study should review the State's various drug policies and strategies and provide the cost effectiveness of the various programs over the last five years.  The information should include the following:

     (1)  Demographics, education levels, types of drug convictions, duration of sentences, drug assessments, participation and effectiveness of drug programs, recidivism rates; 

     (2)  Survey of drug program effectiveness in Hawaii's public and charter schools;

     (3)  Cost, enrollment, and availability of after school programs to the State and parents;

     (4)  Foster-care and adoptions related to drug usage and incarceration and demographics;

     (5)  Per cent of homeless with drug problems and whether drug use affects finding available homes;

     (6)  Number of students turned down for higher education loans due to drug convictions;

     (7)  Employment drug policies, number of employees turned down for employment or promotion due to drug conviction, termination, number of employees provided with drug treatment programs, and number of organizations with zero tolerance policies;

     (8)  Treatment programs, availability of beds, duration of waiting list, number and reasons of participants turned away, and any special needs of patients;

     (9)  Judiciary costs related to the drug crimes;

     (10) Law enforcement cost related to drug crimes; and

     (11) Environmental clean-up costs.

     The purpose of this Act is to provide funding for a comprehensive study to provide the information necessary for the legislature to develop effective drug policies.

     SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $88,090, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2007-2008, to the department of                to contract with an independent public policy research organization to conduct the study. 

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

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2007.

INTRODUCED BY:

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