STAND. COM. REP. NO.  250-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2147

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health & Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2147 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to divert individuals with mental health or substance abuse challenges from the criminal justice system and connect them with community mental health services and related supportive services by:

 

     (1)  Establishing a pre-arrest diversion pilot project and specifying the principles under which the pilot project will operate;

 

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Health community mental health services and the Department of Human Services to provide transitional housing, housing first, or other social services for the pilot project; and

 

     (3)  Appropriating funds for the pilot project.

 

     The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, StressFreeSouls, the Community Health Outreach Work Project, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition testified in support of this measure.  The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Public Safety, Department of Health, and League of Women Voters of Hawaii provided comments.

 

     Your Committee understands that the Department of Health is currently working on implementation of a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Pilot Project that appears to work towards similar goals as this measure.  However, your Committee finds that consideration should still be given to the pilot project contained in this measure.  Your Committee also finds that support should continue to be given to the LEAD Pilot Project and that the LEAD Pilot Project should be initiated statewide as soon as feasible.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to facilitate further discussion.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2147, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2147, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Human Services,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair