STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2378

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3095

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred S.B. No. 3095 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

     (1)  Designate a portion of the Hawaii State Hospital as a forensic facility; and

     (2)  Appropriate funds to the Department of Health to cover any necessary expenses resulting from the designation.

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Public Safety; Hawaii Government Employees Association; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646; and one individual.

     Your Committees find that the conditions at the Hawaii State Hospital have raised concerns regarding hospital worker safety and patient care.  Your Committees further find that a forensic facility would appropriately house the forensic population with well-trained staff operating at a sensible ratio to patients.  This measure provides a level of security that will assist in the prevention of staff assaults and enhance the mental health services provided to the forensic patient population.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3095 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair

____________________________ JOSH GREEN, Chair