HB622

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that suicide accounts for twenty-five per cent of all fatal injuries in the State. The legislature also finds that in 2019, suicide was the leading cause of death for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders between the ages of fifteen to twenty-four. That same year, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders were three times less likely to receive mental health services or prescription medications for mental health treatment, compared to Non‑Hispanic Whites.

Suicide attempts, like suicide deaths, have harmful, lasting, and profound impacts on families and communities. For every person who dies by suicide, more than thirty others will attempt to take their own lives. Thus, it is important to mount a coordinated approach to preventing suicide and suicide attempts, particularly in vulnerable Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities that already experience higher rates of poverty and incarceration in relation to other groups in the State.

The purpose of this Act is to establish within the department of health a task force to reduce the suicide rate among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the State.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the department of health for administrative purposes a task force to reduce the suicide rate among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the State. The task force shall:

(1) Study current mental health practices by, and culturally appropriate suicide prevention models for, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders;

(2) Recommend best practices, including general and specific policies and procedures, for increasing the effectiveness of suicide prevention models among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; and

(3) Determine potential reasons for the high rate of suicide among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders;

(b) The task force shall consist of the following members:

(1) One representative of the department of health's injury prevention and control section, to be selected by the director of health;

(2) One representative of the department of education, to be selected by the superintendent of education;

(3) One representative of the department of public safety or its successor agency, to be selected by the director of public safety or the director of the successor agency;

(4) One representative of the department of human services, to be selected by the director of human services;

(5) One representative of the judiciary, to be selected by the chief justice of the Hawaii supreme court;

(6) One representative of the department of psychiatry of the John A. Burns school of medicine, to be selected by the dean of the John A. Burns school of medicine;

(7) One representative of each county, to be selected by the governor;

(8) One representative of the Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Council, to be selected by the director of health;

(9) One representative to be selected by the executive director of Mental Health America of Hawaii, to be invited by the governor; and

(10) Two members who are survivors of attempted suicide, to be invited by the governor.

To the extent possible, all task force members shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education in or awareness of suicide prevention, preferably with a focus on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.

Any vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for by the original appointments.

(c) Upon the initial meeting of the task force, to occur no later than sixty days after the effective date of this Act, its members shall elect a chair and vice chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members. A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum to conduct business.

(d) The chair shall seek to maintain a balanced representation of interests and the inclusion of all interested community members and may select additional task force members at the chair's discretion.

(e) All meetings of the task force shall be public. The task force shall meet no less often than quarterly. At the discretion of the chair or at the request of a majority of its members, the task force may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary.

(f) Members of the task force shall serve on a voluntary basis and without compensation.

(g) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the governor and legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2025.

(h) The task force shall cease to exist on July 1, 2025.

SECTION 3. It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid. If this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	622
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII