STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1132-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: S.B. No. 2505

S.D. 2

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 Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require, and appropriate funds for, the Department of Health to repurpose unused state facilities to provide short-term residential beds to allow the stabilization, triage, and assessment of patients in need of services for mental health conditions, substance use, or homelessness.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Health, Honolulu Emergency Services Department, a member of the Hawaii County Council, Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, The Queen's Health Systems, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Community Alliance on Prisons, Partners in Care, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, and eleven individuals.

Your Committee finds that short-term stabilization beds are intended to serve individuals with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. According to testimony provided by the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, short-term stabilization beds are not intended to provide general services for all individuals experiencing homelessness and the target population for stabilization services includes many individuals who are not homeless. Your Committee recognizes that the inclusion of language in this measure specifically related to homelessness may unintentionally narrow the pool of individuals who can be served by short-term stabilization beds.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the provision of short-term residential beds is for the stabilization, triage, and assessment of patients in need of services for mental health conditions and/or substance use, which may include homelessness; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair