STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1779

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1442

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to clarify and update the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the State's current mental health systems of care that address mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Hawaii State Council on Mental Health; Department of Health Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that modernizing the statutory language that governs the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division will ensure that Hawaii's mental health care framework aligns with best practices and evolving community needs, thereby enhancing mental health care access and effectiveness for Hawaii's youth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making conforming amendments to section 321-174, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to coordination of services with the Department of Education;

(2) Changing its effective date to upon approval; and

(3) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1442, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair