STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2982

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3137

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify and update the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the current mental health systems of care to address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, Office of Wellness and Resilience, Office of the Public Defender, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council on Mental Health, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that there is an ongoing need for mental heath services for the children and adolescents in the State. Your Committee further finds that over the past thirty years, the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division has leveraged federal system of care grants to actively develop and improve the child and adolescent mental health service system of care in the State based on national standards and best practices. This measure clarifies and better communicates the actual responsibilities of the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division to align with their most recent practices.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3137, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair