STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 591-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 933
H.D. 2
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 933, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRISIS INTERVENTION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to provide those in need with
appropriate care by establishing within the Department of Health a crisis
intervention and diversion program to divert individuals in crisis from the
criminal justice system and into the health care system.
Your Committee finds that each year, thousands of individuals in
Hawaii are cited or arrested for offenses such as drinking liquor in public;
being in public parks after the hours of closure; and camping on sidewalks,
beaches, and other restricted public places.
Most of these individuals suffer from issues related to drugs, alcohol,
or mental illness. Many of those cited
do not appear in court, which leads to the issuance of bench warrants for their
arrest. Time and resources are being
used to bring these individuals to court.
The court system, prosecutors, and police are caught up in a
never-ending revolving door situation.
Your Committee further finds that mental health service providers have
been working with the appropriate law enforcement agencies and criminal justice
system in order to implement a crisis intervention program on Oahu.
Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 933, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 933, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,
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____________________________ CHRIS LEE, Chair |
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