HB2293 HD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that in Hawaii, on average, one person dies by suicide every two days. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children between the ages of ten and fourteen and is the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four. In Hawaii, suicide accounts for twenty-five per cent of all fatal injuries.

Suicide rates vary by area, with neighbor island and rural communities seeing higher rates than urban areas. For the period from 2013 to 2015, the statewide suicide rate was 12.9 deaths for every one hundred thousand individuals. For the same time period, for every one hundred thousand people, the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui had 20.4, 15.9, and 14.6 suicide deaths, respectively. The city and county of Honolulu's suicide rate, at 10.3 deaths for every one hundred thousand people, was slightly lower than the state average.

According to the department of health, the percentage of teenagers in Hawaii who plan to commit suicide and the percentage of teenagers who attempt suicide are among the highest in the nation. For the period from 2005 to 2013, the percentage of high school-aged children with suicide ideation in Hawaii ranged from sixteen to twenty per cent. For the same time period, the percentage of high school-aged children treated for a suicide attempt never dipped below three per cent.

The legislature further finds that suicide attempts, like suicide deaths, have harmful, lasting, and profound impacts on families and communities. For every person that dies by suicide, more than thirty others attempt suicide. The legislature is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of all the people of Hawaii, including military personnel, veterans, and visitors.

The purpose of this Act is to establish the prevent suicide Hawaii task force under the department of health.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the prevent suicide Hawaii task force, to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes. The task force shall:

(1) Undertake a study to develop general and specific policies and procedures necessary to improve the manner in which suicide prevention is conducted in the State. Specifically, the task force shall consider the goals, themes, and formal objectives of the strategic plan to reduce suicides in Hawaii by at least twenty-five percent by 2025 for the purpose of developing action items to develop proposed legislation to be submitted to the legislature prior to each regular session;

(2) Monitor implementation of the strategic plan, as well as submit annual reports to the legislature on the progress, challenges, and recommendations for adjustments; and

(3) Examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach to best prevent suicides in Hawaii.

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One representative from the United States Army, to be invited by the governor;

(2) One representative from the United States Navy, to be invited by the governor;

(3) One representative from the United States Marine Corps, to be invited by the governor;

(4) One representative from the United States Air Force, to be invited by the governor;

(5) One representative from the United States Coast Guard, to be invited by the governor;

(6) The suicide prevention program manager for the United States Army Reserve in Hawaii, to be invited by the governor;

(7) One representative from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to be invited by the governor;

(8) One representative from the department of education, to be appointed by the superintendent of education;

(9) One representative from the department of public safety, to be appointed by the director of public safety;

(10) One representative of the department of human services, to be appointed by the director of human services;

(11) One representative from the judiciary, to be appointed by the chief justice of the Hawaii supreme court;

(12) The suicide prevention coordinator for the department of health;

(13) One member from the department of health's injury prevention and control section, to be appointed by the director of health;

(14) One member from the department of psychiatry of the John A. Burns school of medicine, to be appointed by the dean of the John A. Burns school of medicine;

(15) One member from each county, to be appointed by the governor;

(16) One member from the Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Council, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

(17) One member from the Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Council, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(18) The president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

(19) The board chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

(20) The community liaison of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

(21) One member to be appointed by the executive director of Mental Health America of Hawaii;

(22) Two members who are survivors of suicide, to be appointed by the governor;

(23) One member who is a frontline Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association psychiatrist serving rural and underserved communities, to be appointed by the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association;

(24) One member from the Hawaii Primary Care Association, to be appointed by the Hawaii Primary Care Association;

(25) One member to be appointed by the president of the senate; and

(26) One member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

To the extent possible, all appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education or awareness of suicide prevention.

Any vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for by the original appointments.

(c) Upon the initial meeting of the task force, to occur no later than thirty days after the effective date of this Act, its members shall elect a chair and vice chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members. A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(d) The chair shall seek to maintain a balanced representation of interests and the inclusion of all interested community members and may select additional task force members at the chair's discretion.

(e) All meetings of the task force shall be public. The task force shall meet no less than quarterly. At the discretion of the chair or by the request of a majority of its members, the task force may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary.

(f) Members of the task force shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not be compensated for their services.

(g) The task force shall submit an annual report of its recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature until it ceases to exist pursuant to subsection (h).

(h) The task force shall cease to exist on January 1, 2026.

SECTION 3. It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid. If this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2293
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII