STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 830-20
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2020
RE: H.B. No. 2522
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirtieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2020
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2522, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The
purpose of this measure is to improve
the overall continuum of care through the Hawaii Coordinated Access Resource Entry
System (CARES), by:
(1) Requiring the Department of Health to establish a
continuum of stabilization beds statewide by:
(A) Repurposing unused state facilities for short-term
residential use by non-forensic patients experiencing substance use or mental
health conditions; and
(B) Assessing and
triaging these patients to a clinically appropriate level of care through
CARES; and
(2) Appropriating funds for this purpose.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Community Alliance on Prisons, Hawaii Kai Homeless Task Force, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Psychological Association, and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Health, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.
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. 2522, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ SYLVIA LUKE, Chair |
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