STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1428

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     H.B. No. 1416

        H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1416, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a suicide prevention commission to develop a strategic plan to reduce suicides within Hawaii's correctional facilities.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Public Safety, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Justice Coalition, Hoomanapono Political Action Committee, and nine individuals.  Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

 

     Your Committees find that according to the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the period between 2001 and 2014, Hawaii was seventh in the nation for suicides among incarcerated individuals.  According to testimony received by your Committees, a study found that the risk of suicide increased at least three-fold for male prisoners compared to the general male population with female prisoners being at least nine times more likely to die from suicide compared to the general female population.  The State has an obligation to ensure the life, health, and well-being of those in correctional custody.   This measure therefore establishes a suicide prevention commission to examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and inmate outreach to best prevent suicides in Hawaii's correctional facilities.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1416, H.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

 

________________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair