STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1741

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1148

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1148, H.D. 1, S.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 appropriate moneys to support and expand the University of Hawaii's mental health technician certificate of competence program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Mental Health, Judiciary, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that supporting the University of Hawaii's mental health technician certificate of competence program will help to address the critical shortage of mental health workers in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the appropriations made to the University of Hawaii;

(2) Inserting an appropriation to the Office of the Governor for the establishment of one temporary full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) mental health technician certificate of competence program coordinator position;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1148, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1148, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair