STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3161

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 899

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 899, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that members of the State Council on Mental Health receive annual training that includes topics such as cultural awareness and loss of ethnic identity, as well as other topics that address native Hawaiian healing and health practices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Council on Mental Health, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Mental Health America of Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Islands Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Health Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, National Association of Social Workers - Hawai‘i Chapter, Queen's Health Systems, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that native Hawaiians tend to underutilize existing mental health services, seek therapy only after their illness has becomes severe, or leave treatment prematurely. The State Council on Mental Health is responsible for advising, reviewing, and evaluating the allocation and adequacy of mental health resources and services in the State. Accordingly, requiring the Council to receive training that addresses native Hawaiian culture, identity, and health and healing practices will help to systemically advance culturally responsive policies and programs that may be critical to addressing the dire mental health needs of Hawai‘i's native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. This measure will bring greater understanding of native Hawaiian health and healing practices to members serving on the State Council on Mental Health.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 899, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 899, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair