STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2984

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                 

 

RE:     S.B. No. 2505

        S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the admission process and care access for patients who are involuntarily hospitalized.

 

More specifically, the measure requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Health to repurpose unused state facilities to provide short-term residential beds to allow the stabilization, triage, and assessment of patients in need of services for mental health conditions, substance use, or homelessness.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Health, Hawaii County Council, Emergency Services Department for the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor's Office for the County of Hawaii, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, Democratic Party of Hawaii, HOPE Services Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Partners in Care, and numerous individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the State's lack of short-term stabilization services creates additional burdens for emergency departments, law enforcement, and individuals having behavioral or mental health conditions.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

(2)  Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2505, S.D. 2.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair