STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2619

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2408

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2408 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that at least three members of the State Council on Mental Health have demonstrated knowledge of or work experience involving native Hawaiian concepts of well-being, culturally-grounded mental health methodologies, or traditional healing or health practices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Hawai‘i Psychological Association.

Your Committee finds that native Hawaiians experience distinct health disparities that pervade their day-to-day well-being and hinder their overall health. These mental health disparities, tragically, start in the early years of life and persist through adulthood. Unfortunately, native Hawaiians tend to underutilize existing mental health services, seek therapy only after their illness has become severe, or leave treatment prematurely.

Your Committee further finds that the State Council on Mental Health is responsible for advising, reviewing, and evaluating the allocation and adequacy of mental health resources and services in the State. Accordingly, requiring the State Council on Mental Health to include members with knowledge of or work experience involving native Hawaiian concepts of well-being, culturally-grounded mental health methodologies, or traditional healing or health practices will help to systemically advance culturally responsive policies and programs that may be critical to addressing the dire mental health needs of Hawaii's native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an unspecified amount for the number of members of the State Council on Mental Health that demonstrate knowledge of or work experience involving native Hawaiian concepts of well-being, culturally-grounded mental health methodologies, or traditional healing or health practices; 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. 2408, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2408, 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