STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2551

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 2007

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2007, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the law that establishes and sets the operating and voting requirements of the State Council on Mental Health.

     Specifically, the measure:

     (1)  Requires that the principal state agency regarding Medicaid be represented on the State Council on Mental Health;

     (2)  Clarifies the council's administrative placement within the Department of Health; and

     (3)  Adjusts the council's quorum and voting requirements.

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health.

     Your Committee finds that this measure will allow the council to gain the Medicaid agency's knowledge and expertise on issues and trends that influence the direction in which the mental health field, as it relates to adults in particular, is headed in this State.

     Your Committee notes that if this measure crosses over to the next body of the Legislature, the measure should be reviewed to ensure that it in fact improves, and does not negatively impact, the council's quorum issues.

     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. 2007, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair