STAND. COM. REP. NO. 189

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 226

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.B. No. 226 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds for youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives in Kauai and Hawaii counties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Island Prevent Suicide Task Force, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, Injury Prevention Advisory Committee, Hawaii Youth Services Network, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawaii Family Forum, Sutter Health Kāhi Mōhala, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that suicide is the leading cause of injury-related deaths for fifteen to twenty-four year olds in Hawaii, yet youth suicide may be preventable when communities have sufficient resources in place to support early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives. Your Committee further finds that youth suicide rates are significantly higher for all neighbor island counties compared to the City and County of Honolulu. Therefore, your Committee believes it is appropriate to provide funding for youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and education programs for all three neighbor island counties.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding an appropriation of an unspecified amount to support youth suicide early intervention, prevention, and education initiatives in Maui County; and

(2) 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 226, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 226, 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,

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair