STAND. COM. REP. NO. 408-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 1691

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1691 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to designate the month of September each year as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Family Forum, LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawai‘i Psychological Association, Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that according to data provided by the Prevent Suicide Hawai‘i Taskforce, every two days one person in Hawaii falls victim to suicide. Your Committee further finds that increasing awareness around suicide prevention is one of the key strategies of the Taskforce's Strategic Plan. By designating the month of September every year as "Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month", this measure increases public awareness around suicide prevention education.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, 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 Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1691, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1691, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair