THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3210
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FAMILY GUIDANCE CENTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the department of health's child and adolescent mental health division manages community mental health centers, also known as family guidance centers, that provide Hawai‘i's children and youth who have serious emotional or behavioral challenges access to intensive mental health services. The legislature further finds that each school district in Hawai‘i has at least one family guidance center to serve their children and youth.

The legislature also finds that the school district for Hawai‘i island originally had one family guidance center; however, due to the disproportionately high number of children and youth enrolled in its programs, the center's jurisdiction was divided into two centers: the east Hawai‘i family guidance center and west Hawai‘i family guidance center. The east Hawai‘i family guidance center operates one office located in Hilo, and the west Hawai‘i family guidance center operates two offices--one each in Waimea and Kona. However, it has come to the legislature's attention that the Kona office has been closed for some time as the lease for the premises is being finalized, resulting in the Waimea office serving the entire eastern region of the island. As such, children and youth who reside in the southern region of the island are currently required to travel as far as one hundred miles to visit the Waimea office or the Hilo office, and even when the Kona office reopens, some will still be required to travel as far as seventy miles to reach the office.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of health's child and adolescent mental health division to establish a family guidance center office in Ka‘ū in the county of Hawai‘i, to serve the needs of the children and youth who reside in the southern region of the county, in addition to the offices in Waimea, Kona, and Hilo.

SECTION 2. The department of health's child and adolescent mental health division shall establish a community mental health center office, also known as a family guidance center office, in Ka‘ū in the county of Hawai‘i, to serve the needs of the children and youth who reside in the southern region of the county, in addition to the existing offices in Waimea, Kona, and Hilo.

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 establishment and operation of a community mental health center office, also known as a family guidance center, in Ka‘ū in the county of Hawaii.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health's child and adolescent mental health division for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Community Mental Health Center; Family Guidance Centers; County of Hawaii; Ka‘ū; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Department of Health's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division to establish a Family Guidance Center office in Ka‘ū in the county of Hawaii, to serve the needs of the children and youth in the southern region of the county, in addition to the offices in Waimea, Kona, and Hilo. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.