STAND. COM. REP. NO.  965-18

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2018

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2147

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2147, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to assist individuals with mental health or substance abuse challenges who are particularly vulnerable to becoming homeless by establishing a Pre-Arrest Diversion Pilot Project, to be operative from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020, (Pilot Project) under which Deputy Sheriffs may refer these individuals who commit certain nonviolent, nonfelony offenses on state property to appropriate community mental health services instead of arresting or citing them; and providing for:

 

(1)  Coordination among Deputy Sheriffs, the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, the Responsible State Officer appointed to oversee the Pilot Project, and Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness for operation of the Pilot Project;

 

(2)  Provision for Pilot Project participants of community mental health services by the Department of Health and housing and other services by the Department of Human Services;

 

(3)  Interim and final status reports to the Legislature by the Responsible State Officer; and

 

(4)  Appropriation of funds for the Pilot Program.

 

     The Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and two concerned individuals supported this measure.  The Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Public Safety, Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, The Queen's Health Systems, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition submitted comments on this measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2147, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair