STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1926

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 30

S.D. 1

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.R. No. 30 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO RECOGNIZE AND ADDRESS THE INEQUITABLE LOCATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND CLEAN AND SOBER HOMES ACROSS THE ISLAND OF OAHU,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the City and County of Honolulu to recognize and address the inequitable location of mental health facilities and clean and sober homes across the island of Oahu.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committees find that mental health facilities, clean and sober homes, homeless shelters, and other supportive living homes are inequitably located across the island of Oahu, with a large number of facilities and homes along the Waianae coast. The concentration of such facilities along Oahu's Waianae coast has caused individuals from other areas of Oahu struggling with mental health issues and substance use problems to be referred to services in that area. Your Committee believes that access to these facilities should be more evenly distributed across the island of Oahu. This measure recognizes the concerns of the Waianae coast communities and will help to ensure that relevant community stakeholders are actively engaged by state and local entities working to more evenly distribute mental health facilities, clean and sober homes, homeless shelters, and other supportive living homes on the island of Oahu.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the State to also recognize and address the inequitable location of certain facilities and homes along the Waianae coast;

(2) Expanding the types of facilities and homes the State and City and County of Honolulu are urged to recognize and address to include homeless shelters and other supportive living homes;

(3) Requesting Partners in Care Oahu to consult with stakeholders on certain issues;

(4) Expanding the list of certified copy recipients;

(5) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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.R. No. 30, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 30, S.D. 1.

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