STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1064

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.R. No. 149

      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.R. No. 149 entitled:

 

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO CONVENE A MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS TASK FORCE AND REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO COMPLETE A MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve mental health care in the State by requesting:

 

(1) The University of Hawaii at Manoa to convene a Mental Health Access Task Force; and

 

(2) The auditor to complete and submit a mental health workforce assessment of mental health professionals and mental health facilities in Hawaii. 

 

     An individual testified in support of this measure with comments.  Several individuals testified in opposition to this measure.

 

     Your Committee finds that the purpose of this measure would be better addressed with a working group rather than a task force and that a request to the auditor is addressed in a separate measure.

 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

(1)  Changing the title to read: "REQUESTING THE CONVENING OF A MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS WORKING GROUP";

 

(2)  Replacing references to a task force with reference to a working group;

 

(4)  Removing references to the auditor; and

 

(3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments 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.R. No. 149, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Higher Education in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 149, H.D. 1.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair