STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1291

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

RE:   H.C.R. No. 167

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 167 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES TO IDENTIFY SHORTAGES AND AID IN PROPOSING SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THOSE SHORTAGES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Auditor to:

(1) Conduct a mental health workforce assessment of mental health professionals and mental health facilities in Hawaii to identify shortages and determine how those shortages can be reduced; and

(2) Submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2016.

     Hawaii Medical Association, Mental Health America, and Helping Hands Hawaii provided testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Health supported the intent of this measure.  The Institute for Human Services provided testimony in support of this measure with comments.  Several individuals provided testimony in opposition to this measure.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 167, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 167, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair