STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1016-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2451

H.D. 3

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2451, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the examinations of defendants via telehealth;

(2) Amend the conditions for certain petty misdemeanants' release or examination of fitness to proceed;

(3) Provide a mechanism for the automatic screening of certain petty misdemeanants for involuntary hospitalization or assisted community treatment; and

(4) Appropriate funds to provide additional positions and resources necessary for the implementation of this measure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; State Council on Mental Health; Disability and Communication Access Board; and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Judiciary; Department of Health; Hawaii Disability Rights Center; and Hawaiʻi Psychological Association.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to the Department of Health to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2451, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2451, H.D. 3.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair