HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1941

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO IMPLEMENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with article VII, section 9, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

     SECTION 2.  The legislature finds that the Hawaii state hospital is the only publicly funded state psychiatric hospital in the State.  The hospital is organized within the adult mental health division of the department of health and provides adult inpatient psychiatric services.  The Hawaii state hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission, most recently in December 2021, for thirty-six months, and is licensed as a health care facility by the office of health care assurance of the department of health.

     The department of health contracted with a consultant in 2023 to evaluate hospital operations in response to increasing demand for secure psychiatric services.  The consultant's report was submitted in early 2024 and makes recommendations for effectively accommodating the rising influx of patients while ensuring the delivery of quality care, establishing a safer environment, and supporting fiscal responsibility.  In addition to the reorganization and addition of staff, the Hawaii state hospital requires both building and equipment upgrades as part of its quality improvement plan as follows:

     (1)             full-time equivalent (      FTE) positions;

     (2)  $           for salary for newly created full-time equivalent positions;

     (3)  $           for telecommunications and networking upgrades;

     (4)  $           for miscellaneous improvements to campus facilities;

     (5)  $           for the construction of a guard shack; and

     (6)  $           for mental health continuum of care services and contracted security for the Hawaii state hospital campus.

     The purpose of this Act is to make an emergency appropriation from the mental health and substance abuse special fund to the department of health to implement quality improvement recommendations for the Hawaii state hospital.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the mental health and substance abuse special fund the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the department of health to implement quality improvement recommendations for the Hawaii state hospital.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

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

 

 

Report Title:

DOH; Hawaii State Hospital; Quality Improvements; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund; Emergency Appropriation

 

Description:

Makes an emergency appropriation from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund to the Department of Health to implement quality improvement measures recommended in the 2024 consultant report for the Hawaii State Hospital.  (SD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.