STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1654

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1462

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1462, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRISIS SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Health to expand the Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services program, including the establishment of at least two sites on the island of Oahu.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii State Health Planning and Development Agency, State Council on Mental Health, Community Alliance on Prisons, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

Your Committee finds that homelessness is a significant issue on Oahu. Your Committee further finds that some unsheltered individuals suffer from issues related to substance abuse or mental illness and often lack access to appropriate services for help. Your Committee recognizes that the Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services program has been successful in diverting persons with substance abuse or mental health issues to appropriate health care services and should be expanded.

Your Committee respectfully requests, if a Committee on Conference is convened on this measure, that the Committee on Conference consider the Department of Health's requested appropriation amount of $4,288,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1462, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair