HB2002.DOC

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that suicide is a major health concern that claims approximately one million lives worldwide each year. In Hawaii, suicide was the most common cause of fatal injuries among Hawaii residents between 2010-2014, accounting for one-quarter of all fatal injuries. One person dies by suicide in Hawaii every two days. The legislature is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of all the people of Hawaii, including military personnel, veterans, and visitors.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a suicide prevention task force to reduce suicides in Hawaii by twenty five per cent by year 2025.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a suicide prevention task force, to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes. The suicide prevention task force shall examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach to best prevent suicides in Hawaii.

(b) The suicide prevention task force shall consist of the following fifteen members who shall serve until January 1, 2017:

(1) The suicide prevention coordinator for the department of health;

(2) One member to be appointed by the governor;

(3) Two members who are survivors of suicide, to be appointed by the governor;

(4) One member to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(5) One member from the Hawaii Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(6) One member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(7) One member from the Hawaii Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(8) One member from the injury prevention and control section and prevent suicide Hawaii task force, to be appointed by the director of health;

(9) One member to be appointed by the dean of the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns school of medicine, from its department of psychiatry;

(10) One member to be appointed by the substance abuse and mental health services administration of the United States Department of Health;

(11) The suicide prevention program manager for the United States Reserves in Hawaii;

(12) The president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

(13) The board chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

(14) The community liaison of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter; and

(15) One member to be appointed by the director or president of Mental Health America Hawaii.

All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education or awareness of suicide prevention.

Any vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for the original appointments.

(c) Upon the initial meeting of the task force, to occur no later than thirty days after the passage of this Act, its members shall elect a chair and vice chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members. A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(d) The task force shall meet no less than quarterly. The task force may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary. The chair, at the request of a majority of members, may request special meetings.

(e) Members of the suicide prevention task force shall receive no compensation for their services.

(f) The suicide prevention task force shall submit a report of its recommendations to the legislature, which shall include a strategic plan to reduce suicide in Hawaii by twenty-five per cent by year 2025, using the calendar year 2015 as the basis year, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

(g) The suicide prevention task force shall terminate on January 1, 2017.

SECTION 3. It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid. If this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2002
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII