STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1182

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 622

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 622, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Make the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force within the Department of Health permanent;

(2) Require the Task Force to focus on reducing the suicide rate among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the State; and

(3) Require reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System, Department of Public Safety, Department of Human Services, Steering Committee of the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce, Papa Ola Lokahi, Hawai‘i Family Forum, Hawai‘i Primary Care Association, The Queen's Health System, and seven individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health, Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Rainbow Family 808, ‘Ahahui o nā Kauka, and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 622, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair