STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1648

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 73

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.R. No. 73 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FEASIBILITY OF REPURPOSING LEAHI HOSPITAL AND MALUHIA HOSPITAL AS CENTERS FOR COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT SERVICES FOR NON-FORENSIC PATIENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health to convene a task force to study and make recommendations on the feasibility of using Leahi Hospital and Maluhia Hospital as centers for community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment services for non-forensic patients.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Oahu Regional Health System Board of Directors. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the United Public Workers, AFSCME, Local 646, AFL‑CIO.

Your Committee finds that currently, the only state facility providing mental health and substance abuse services is the Hawaii State Hospital, which currently has sufficient capacity to treat only forensic patients. There is an urgent need to expand community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment services in Hawaii at the outpatient, intermediate, and inpatient levels. Your Committee further finds that developing a comprehensive mental health care system to meet the need for community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment services requires better coordination of state resources. Convening a task force to assess the feasibility of utilizing available space at Leahi Hospital and Maluhia Hospital as centers for community-based mental health and substance abuse treatment services for non-forensic patients will be an important first step toward implementing a more coordinated continuum of care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the scope of the task force to include an examination of current use and possible expansion of services at Leahi Hospital and Maluhia Hospital, rather than repurposing the services provided at the hospitals;

(2) Amending the membership of the task force;

(3) Amending its title to reflect its updated purpose; and

(4) 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.R. No. 73, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 73, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair