STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3195

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 140

       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.C.R. No. 140 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING A MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to conduct a management audit of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that the clients of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, who are among the most vulnerable in the community, consist of youths who have encountered mental health difficulties through little or no fault of their own or because they made immature life choices.  The cost of the child and adolescent mental health program is substantial--$63,000,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017, of which $41,600,000 is general funds.  Because of these substantial costs, your Committee finds that the program should be reviewed for its effectiveness and efficiency.

     Your Committee further finds that there is concern about the progress of the current reorganization of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division, which complicates legislative budget review of program efficiencies and the benefits to, or impacts upon, the children and adolescents who are served by the Division.  Your Committee finds that, before committing additional resources to the child and adolescent mental health program, a review of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division should be performed to determine the effectiveness and efficiency of its operation.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that requested that the Auditor conduct a management audit of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health;

     (2)  Inserting findings related to the services provided by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division for special education youth with severe mental health conditions and youth in the juvenile correctional facility and detention home;

     (3)  Inserting language that requests that the Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a review of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division;

     (4)  Inserting language related to the information to be included in the requested review by the Legislative Reference Bureau;

     (5)  Amending its title; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 140, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 140, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair