STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3365

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1666

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1666, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a pilot program within the Adult Mental Services Division of the Department of Health to expand existing county programs that make one or more licensed mental health counselors available to assist county first responders in responding to mental health crises in areas in the urban core with high rates of homelessness; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Health, City and County of Honolulu Office of the Mayor, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that approximately twenty-five percent of homeless persons struggle with mental illnesses or substance abuse issues and would benefit from mental health assistance. Often, law enforcement officers are dispatched to respond to a homeless person experiencing a mental health crisis but lack the expertise and resources to adequately help. Your Committee further finds that county programs, such as the City and County of Honolulu's Crisis, Outreach, Response, and Engagement program provides assistance to persons experiencing homelessness and is staffed by community health workers experienced in social work and emergency medical technician training. This measure augments existing county programs by establishing a pilot program within the Adult Mental Services Division of the Department of Health that expands county programs that make one or more licensed mental health counselors available to assist county first responders who are responding to mental health crises.

Your Committee acknowledges the testimony of the Department of Health, which notes that the term "licensed mental health counselors" is limiting, since there are other types of mental health professionals who could participate in the pilot program to provide the much needed assistance.

Therefore, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing all references to "licensed mental health counselor" with "mental health professional"; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 1666, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1666, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair