STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2209

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2885

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 2885 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the Director of Public Safety to recruit qualified candidates for appointment to the positions of Mental Health Branch Administrator and Mental Health Section Administrators without regard to civil service laws.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Public Safety.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that in 2008, the Department of Public Safety entered into a settlement agreement with the United States Department of Justice to improve mental health services available to persons incarcerated at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.  Since that time, substantial improvements have been made, including the creation of additional positions to manage mental health services statewide.  However, it has been a challenge to fill these positions with qualified individuals due to the unique nature of providing health services within the correctional setting.  This measure will allow the Director of Public Safety more flexibility in appointing a Mental Health Branch Administrator and Mental Health Section Administrators.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2885 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair