STAND. COM. REP. NO.  947-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2043

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

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. 2043, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve minors' access to mental health care by:

 

     (1)  Allowing an unlicensed mental health professional, working under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional, to provide mental health treatment or counseling services to minors without parental or legal guardian consent, knowledge, or participation;

 

     (2)  Requiring a mental health professional to assist a minor receiving minor-initiated mental health treatment or counseling services with completing a nondisclosure notification form to send to covered entities, when appropriate; and

 

     (3)  Requiring a covered entity, upon receiving a completed notification form, to maintain confidentiality of minorinitiated mental health treatment or counseling services.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and Pride @ Work - Hawaii.

 

     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. 2043, 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