STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2242

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2007

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2007 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the membership and quorum and voting requirements of the State Council on Mental Health.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division; and State Council on Mental Health.

     Your Committee finds that the State Council on Mental Health has had a difficult time in meeting quorum requirements.  When the State Council on Mental Health does have quorum, however, members are often rushed to approve business that has been on the agenda for several months and are unable to respond to mental health concerns in a timely manner.  This measure would ensure that assigned duties of members could be completed in a timely manner and that the Council may better serve and advocate for the children and adults living with mental illness.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Specifying that the State Council on Mental Health shall be established within the Department of Health for administrative purposes; and

     (2)  Inserting a reference to part I of chapter 92, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as an exception to the general rule that an affirmative vote by a majority of members present is sufficient for the State Council on Mental Health to act.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2007, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2007, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

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ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair