STAND

 

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1392

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2005

RE: S.C.R. No. 126

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Higher Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 126 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE ADULT MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY, REESTABLISH THE PSYCHIATRIC RESIDENCY STIPEND PROGRAM TO MEET THE MENTAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS OF UNDERSERVED AREAS AND POPULATIONS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to reestablish the psychiatric residency stipend program to meet the mental health care needs of under-served areas and populations.

The Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association and two individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure. The Department of Health and Acting Dean of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine submitted comments.

Your Committees find that the psychiatric residency stipend program was an effective means of encouraging psychiatric residents to serve under-served areas and populations. However, the program was discontinued because of a shortage of funds. As one proponent noted, reinstatement of the program requires thorough financial and program due diligence and an examination of issues such as whether residents will receive the same kind of career opportunities that the original program offered. Proponents testified to other initiatives, such as J-1 visa waivers that could improve access to appropriate psychiatric health services for under-served areas and populations.

Upon further consideration, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting that representatives from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and the Adult Mental Health Division, the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, the Hawaii Psychological Association, and the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association collaborate with each other in a working group to bring additional psychiatric services to under-served areas and populations;

(2) Requesting the working group to focus on initiatives, such as the psychiatric residency stipend program and J-1 visa waivers, that will improve access to appropriate mental health services for under-served areas and populations;

(3) Requesting the Department of Health to convene the working group and provide administrative support;

(4) Requesting the Department of Health to submit a report of the working group's progress, including any recommendations regarding the psychiatric residency stipend program, J-1 visa waivers, and other initiatives; and

(5) Making technical, non-substantive changes for clarity and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Higher Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 126, as amended herein, recommend that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 126, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Higher Education,

____________________________ CLAYTON HEE, Chair		____________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair