STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1272

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: H.C.R. No. 51

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 51 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO CREATE A MODEL STATEWIDE SCHOOL POLICY ON STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND POSTVENTION IN GRADES K-12,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to convene a working group to create a model statewide school policy on student suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention in grades K-12.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Sutter Health Kāhi Mōhala, and ten individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning youth are at a higher risk of experiencing suicidal ideation or engaging in self-injury or considering suicide than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Your Committee further finds that school personnel who interact with students on a daily basis are essential gatekeepers for recognizing warning signs of suicide and making the appropriate referrals for help.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 51 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair