STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 53-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 35
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 35 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Restore the categories of "gravely disabled" and "obviously ill" to the criteria for involuntary hospitalization that were deleted by Act 221, Session Laws of Hawaii 2013; and
(2) Increase the maximum period of emergency hospitalization from forty-eight hours to seventy-two hours.
Prior to the hearing on this measure, your Committee posted and made available for public review a proposed H.D. 1, which deletes the contents of this measure and inserts language to authorize expenditures from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund to be used for capital improvement projects.
Your Committee finds that utilizing the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund to support new capital improvement projects, including sub-acute stabilization services, and sustain existing program operations will enhance the State's current continuum of care by helping to reduce unnecessary emergency department admissions, promoting jail diversion opportunities, and better assisting individuals with behavioral health issues.
Your Committee has amended this measure by adopting the proposed H.D. 1 and further amending the measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.
Your Committee respectfully requests the Department of Health to work with the Chair of your Committee on Finance and members of the Finance staff to discuss funding requirements associated with this measure and arrive at an agreement and understanding regarding the use of authorized expenditures from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 35, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 35, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair |
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