STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2107

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 67

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 67, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND THE STATE AGENCIES COMPRISING THE STATE'S PUBLIC MENTAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO COOPERATE MORE CLOSELY TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO EXPEDITE THE HIRING AND FILLING OF CRITICAL VACANCIES, INCLUDING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE OBSTACLES AND CHALLENGES UNIQUE TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Resources Development and the state agencies comprising the State's public mental health care system to cooperate more closely to determine the necessary actions to expedite the hiring and filling of critical vacancies, including solutions to address the obstacles and challenges unique to the mental health care workforce.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Resources Development; State Council on Mental Health; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the quality of the State's public mental health care system has diminished, in part due to hiring practices and policies that make it challenging for state agencies to hire and retain the skilled professionals essential to providing effective mental health care services, affecting a range of critical roles, ultimately undermining the system's ability to meet the needs of the community. Your Committee further finds that departments and agencies that constitute the Continuum of Care in the State are in desperate need of support as high vacancy rates prevent these agencies from meeting the increasing demand for mental health care services. Therefore, your Committee believes that the Department of Human Resources Development and the state agencies comprising the State's public mental health care system should cooperate more closely to determine the necessary actions to expedite the hiring and filling of critical vacancies, including solutions to address the obstacles and challenges unique to the mental health care workforce.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 67, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

JACKSON D. SAYAMA, Chair