STAND. COM. REP. NO. 511-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2800

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 Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 2800 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Health to convene an Advisory Committee on Mental Health Code Review beginning July 1, 2025, and every ten years thereafter.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health. Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Queen's Health System.

Your Committee finds that the chapters of the Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to mental health and involuntary transport, examination, hospitalization, and treatment have been amended in a piecemeal manner over the past several decades, leading to a lack of clarity and inconsistency. Your Committee further finds that periodically reviewing the State's mental health laws will be helpful in advancing the overall goal of improving mental health in the State, especially for those unable to help themselves. The Advisory Committee on Mental Health Code Review that is proposed by this measure will ensure that this important portion of state law receives full and deliberate attention from time to time to ensure the law's continued force and effectiveness.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the Department of the Attorney General, rather than the Department of Health, to convene the Advisory Committee on Mental Health Code Review on July 1, 2024, rather than July 1, 2025;

(2) Amending the composition of the Advisory Committee;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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 Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2800, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2800, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair