STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1578
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.C.R. No. 89
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 89 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO WORK IN COLLABORATION TO PRESERVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF SPECIAL NEEDS INMATES AND OTHERS IN THE STATE'S JAILS AND PRISONS,"
beg leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Health and Department of Public Safety to work in collaboration to preserve the health and safety of special needs inmates and others in the State's jails and prisons.
Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Hawaii Disability Rights Center. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Public Safety.
Your Committees find that the Department of Public Safety is statutorily required to provide mental health services to inmates in community correctional centers and to develop and make available gender-responsive, community-based programs for women offenders by providing them with the appropriate range of opportunities to ensure that their needs are met, including programs designed to provide substance abuse and mental health treatments. Your Committees further find that the Department of Health has expertise in identifying and addressing mental health and behavioral issues, including the provision of mental health education, treatment, and rehabilitation services. Your Committees believe that the line staff of the Department of Public Safety would benefit greatly from receiving training from the Department of Health on the subject of mental health and behavioral issues. This measure will preserve the health and safety of special needs inmates and others in the State's jails and prisons.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 89 and recommend its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and Health and Human Services,
________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
|
________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair |
|
|
|