STAND. COM. REP. NO. 565

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1531

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1531 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 establish the Beneficial Treatments Advisory Council to review mental health treatment information and advise the Department of Health.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Clarity Project, Happy Happy Happy LLC dba Beyond Mental Health, Honolulu Psychotherapy LLC, Wellness Kuleana LLC, and forty-nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that major research and academic institutions around the world have shown psilocybin and methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as MDMA, to be promising and even groundbreaking clinical treatments for a wide range of mental and psychiatric diagnoses, including anxiety, addiction, depression, end-of-life anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psilocybin is increasingly considered one of the most natural, effective, non-addictive, and safe treatment options for depression and anxiety, especially when administered in clinical settings. MDMA is also considered one of the most effective treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects five percent of the U.S. population. Your Committee also finds that the United States Food and Drug Administration has granted both psilocybin and MDMA its "Breakthrough Therapy" designation to expedite research and potential approval. Both psilocybin and MDMA are expected to be federally rescheduled and approved for medical use in the next few years. This measure will allow the State to make an informed decision on new and revised mental health treatment options, paving the way for the development of a long-term strategic plan to ensure the availability of therapeutic psilocybin, psilocybin-based products, and MDMA that are safe, accessible, and affordable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the Director of Health with the Executive Director of Office of Wellness and Resilience as the chairperson of the Beneficial Treatments Advisory Council;

(2) Clarifying that all members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties;

(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1531, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1531, 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 and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair