SB2481 HD2

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that instances of crisis occurring amongst the State's most vulnerable youth are increasing, especially in communities having a high incidence of poverty, homelessness, crime, school truancy, school suspensions, runaways, physical and mental abuse, illegal drug use, juvenile crime, and crimes against youth, including sex trafficking. The legislature further finds that these communities lack sufficient resources and services to respond to the immediate needs of the youth at risk. The legislature acknowledges that there is also a lack of collaboration among various state agencies to provide comprehensive, data-based services to adequately identify the needs and conditions of crises experienced by the State's youth.

The legislature believes that it is necessary to ensure focused attention on the issues affecting the State's youth at risk and provide a more proactive approach to mitigate the effects of trauma and abuse, by more directly addressing their needs. The legislature also believes that establishing a framework of institutionalized youth crisis centers that can be sustained, even in the absence of grant funding and contracted services, will disrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, encourage the continuation of education, provide safer environments for the State's youth, and ensure continued services toward individual achievement.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish the youth crisis center branch within the office of youth services, to be headed by the youth crisis center branch administrator.

SECTION 2. Chapter 352D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new sections to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§352D- Youth crisis center branch; established; regional centers. (a) There is established within the office the youth crisis center branch.

(b) The branch may establish regional youth crisis centers for the provision of services and temporary shelter to youth at risk and youth in need of services; provided that the provision of temporary shelter shall not exceed thirty days per person.

(c) The branch may contract with individual service providers as the branch deems appropriate; provided that the office shall maintain operational oversight of each youth crisis center and the provision of youth services.

(d) The primary objective of each regional youth crisis center established pursuant to this section shall be to address the immediate safety and service needs of youth at risk.

(e) The objectives of the branch shall be to:

(1) Provide immediate temporary shelter for youth at risk during times of crisis;

(2) Develop an improved system of intake, assessment, and follow-up for youth at risk;

(3) Develop individualized service plans for each youth at risk serviced by the branch; and

(4) Provide a wider range of informal dispositions for youth at risk, including alternatives to the juvenile justice and foster care systems.

(f) The branch may provide the following services and programs:

(1) Mental health services and programs;

(2) Substance abuse treatment programs;

(3) Crisis shelters for homeless youth and victims of human and sex trafficking;

(4) Vocational training;

(5) Group homes;

(6) Day treatment programs;

(7) Aftercare;

(8) Individual and family counseling services;

(9) Educational services; and

(10) Any other services and programs that may be required to meet the needs of youth at risk.

(g) All youth at risk shall be eligible for services and programs provided by each youth crisis center established pursuant to this section.

(h) The administrator shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session. The report shall include:

(1) A summary of the services or programs provided pursuant to this section;

(2) The number of youth receiving each service or participating in each program provided pursuant to this section;

(3) The results of each service and program provided pursuant to this section; and

(4) Any other findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation and resource allocations necessary to improve the effectiveness of each service and program provided pursuant to this section.

§352D- Administrator; appointment; powers and duties. The branch shall be headed by an administrator who shall be appointed by the governor without regard to chapter 76. The administrator may appoint staff without regard to chapter 76."

SECTION 3. Section 352D-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:

""Administrator" means the administrator of the branch.

"Branch" means the youth crisis center branch of the office."

SECTION 4. 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 office of youth services to establish the youth crisis center branch, including the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrator position and two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) program specialist positions.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of youth services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2060.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2481
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 2