STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3189

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2451

H.D. 3

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2451, H.D. 3, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize examination of defendants via telehealth;

(2) Amend conditions for certain petty misdemeanant's release or examination of fitness to proceed;

(3) Provide a mechanism for the automatic screening of certain nonviolent defendants for involuntary hospitalization or assisted community treatment; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender, Judiciary, Disability and Communication Access Board, State Council of Mental Health, Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health, Hawaiʻi Psychological Association, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center.

Your Committees find that timely and thorough court-ordered examinations are necessary and vital for both the individual and for cases to move forward in the criminal justice system. Additionally, your Committees find that unexpected circumstances beyond the court's, examiner's, or facility's control, may hamper the ability of the examiner to conduct the examination in person. By allowing court-ordered examinations to be conducted via telehealth, this measure will maximize time and efficiency and minimize travel costs, thereby reducing expenses for the State.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2451, H.D. 3, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services and Public Safety and Intergovernmental and Military Affairs,

________________________________ GLENN WAKAI, Chair

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair