SB2205

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that suicide is a major public health concern. According to the World Health Organization, suicide claims approximately seven hundred thousand lives worldwide each year. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan, and it is the fourth leading cause of death for young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-nine. In Hawaii, suicides were the leading cause of fatal injuries during the five-year period of 2013 to 2017, accounting for twenty-five per cent of deaths.

Suicide rates vary by area, with neighbor island and rural communities seeing higher rates than urban areas. According to the department of health's Hawaii injury prevention plan 2018-2023, from 2013 to 2017, the statewide suicide rate was 63.51 deaths per one hundred thousand individuals. For the same time period, for every one hundred thousand people, the counties of Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai had 97.19, 83.23, and 97.14 deaths, respectively. The city and county of Honolulu's suicide rate, at 52.04 deaths for every one hundred thousand people, was lower than the state average.

According to the World Health Organization, suicide may happen impulsively in moments of crisis related to financial problems, relationship struggles, violence, abuse, and feelings of isolation. A previous suicide attempt is the most significant risk factor for individuals. For every person that dies by suicide, more than thirty others attempt suicide. Studies show suicide rates are high among groups who experience discrimination such as immigrants, indigenous peoples, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The legislature further finds that the stigma of seeking mental health counseling creates barriers to providing care and support to individuals in crisis. In 2020, Congress enacted the National Suicide Designation Act, which established a nationwide, three-digit suicide and mental health crisis call line. On July 16, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules to establish "988" as the new, nationwide three-digit phone number to connect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line. The shorter number is intended to be easier to remember and more accessible to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The National Suicide Designation Act gives states flexibility to invest and implement different programs to support call centers and professionals who respond to mental health crisis calls. Beginning July 16, 2022, dialing "988" will route calls to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. States across the nation sought to address this issue by passing legislation to prepare and implement the new national suicide prevention lifeline.

The legislature further finds that there is a need to enact the suicide lifeline to assist Hawaii's people during a mental health crisis. In 2021, Nebraska passed legislation to create a task force that would create and develop a plan to integrate the suicide and mental health call line. The task force would be responsible for accessibility of the lifeline, and staffing of the statewide lifeline with qualified mental or behavioral health professionals Seventeen states introduced variations of the Nebraska legislation, while fourteen states enacted legislation in the 2021 legislative session.

The purpose of this Act is to establish a task force to develop an implementation plan to integrate and utilize the new 988 calling code of national suicide and mental health crisis lifeline for mental health-related emergencies.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a suicide and mental health crisis lifeline task force. The department of health shall be responsible for administering the work of the task force. The goals of the task force shall be to:

(1) Develop an overall implementation plan for the integration and utilization of the 988 calling code of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline;

(2) Identify and collaborate with community partners to create or invest in existing programs to support call centers dedicated to the 988 lifeline through investing in support for qualified mental health or behavioral professionals who respond to mental health crisis calls; and

(3) Recommend to the legislature an implementation framework, along with other proposals for policies and legislation, necessary to facilitate the implementation of the 988 lifeline.

(b) The suicide and mental health crisis lifeline task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) The director of behavioral health, who shall serve as co-chair;

(2) The chair of the suicide prevention Hawaii task force, who shall serve as co-chair;

(3) The director of health;

(4) The director of human services;

(5) A representative from the department of education;

(6) A representative from the University of Hawaii;

(7) A representative from the state council on mental health established by section 334-10, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(8) The chair of the house of representatives standing committee on health, human services, and homelessness;

(9) The chair of the senate standing committee on human services;

(10) One representative each from the regional suicide prevention Hawaii task forces that oversee Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii;

(11) A representative of behavioral and mental health service providers, to be designated by the governor;

(12) A representative who is a mental or behavioral health clinician licensed to practice in the State, to be designated by the governor; and

(13) A representative of the community who is a mental or behavioral health advocate, to be designated by the governor.

(c) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2023.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the development and implementation of the 988 calling code of the suicide and mental health lifeline.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval; provided that section 3 of this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2205
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII