STAND. COM. REP. NO. 360

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1472

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 S.B. No. 1472, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to provide support for contracted behavioral health services that are overseen by the Behavioral Health Administration of the Department of Health.

More specifically, the measure appropriates funds to expand and enhance a variety of services provided by contracted service providers through the Hawaii Coordinated Access Resource Entry System (CARES) crisis helpline, including:

(1) Suicide crisis hotline and crisis management services;

(2) Crisis mobile outreach services;

(3) Licensed crisis residential shelter services; and

(4) Bed stabilization services.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee recognizes the need to support the critical services provided through the Hawaii CARES crisis helpline and provide resources to accommodate the increased volume of calls to the helpline. Your Committee finds that this measure will provide the financial resources needed to improve or establish critical technology and infrastructure, retain necessary personnel, and expand and enhance existing services provided by contracted service providers through the CARES crisis helpline.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Health has requested in its written comments on this measure that certain unspecified appropriation amounts be replaced with the following specified amounts:

(1) $3,202,000 in Section 2 of the measure for the suicide crisis hotline and crisis management services; and

(2) $8,205,200 in Section 5 of the measure for bed stabilization services.

Your Committee respectfully requests that the Department's request be considered as the measure moves forward in the legislative process.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 S.B. No. 1472, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1472, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair