STAND. COM. REP. NO. 233-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2405

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 2405 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a working group to develop and make recommendations for a framework for peer support specialists in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary; Office of Wellness and Resilience; Department of Human Services; Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Department of Health Adult Mental Health Division; Early Childhood Action Strategy; Epic ʻOhana, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network; National Alliance on Mental Illness Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration identifies peer support as one of the six guiding principles of trauma-informed care. Your Committee further finds that the Office of Wellness and Resilience within the Office of the Governor was established to strengthen the State's systems and services, using healing-centered care principles as strategies to make Hawaii a trauma-informed state. Your Committee believes that the working group established by this measure will contribute to the development of a framework that will elevate the role of peer support specialists and enhance their ability to serve individuals in need.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2405, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2405, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair