STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1091-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 3094

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop and make recommendations for a statewide framework for peer support specialists.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Department of Health; Department of Human Services; Office of Wellness and Resilience; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; State Council on Mental Health; EPIC ʻOhana, Inc.; Pacific Peer Connection; Pūʻā Foundation; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Opportunity Youth Action Hawaiʻi; Commit to Keiki; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that research shows that there are many benefits of peer support for individuals, including improved behavioral health outcomes, reduced hospital admission rates, longer community tenure, increased social functioning, and decreased substance abuse and depression. Your Committee further finds that peer support extends to many marginalized individuals in the State, such as homeless individuals, those involved in the child welfare system, survivors of disasters, individuals involved in the correctional and juvenile justice systems, and certain caregivers of youth. Your Committee believes that establishing a working group will benefit the State by enhancing the role of peer support specialists in serving individuals in need.

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3094, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair