STAND. COM. REP. NO.  321

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1148

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1148 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to support and expand the Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence program through the hiring of a mental health technician certificate program coordinator, establishment of a scholarship program, granting of scholarships, and funding of other necessary administrative costs.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, University of Hawaii System, Department of Health, and six individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that there is a severe shortage of mental health providers in the State.  This shortage is due to a lack of appropriately educated individuals and high rates of turnover in the field, which is exacerbated by compassion fatigue, burnout, and inadequate preparation for mental health serving positions.  Your Committee further finds that Windward Community College, in collaboration with the Hawaii State Hospital, has developed a Mental Health Technician Certificate of Competence program that can help to grow the State's overall capacity to address the mental health challenges and needs of Hawaii's residents.  This measure will support that program.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

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

 

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $137,250.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1148, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1148, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education & Technology,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

AMY A. PERRUSO, Chair