SB1454 SD1

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is heightened awareness of the detrimental effects of untreated and maltreated mental health in our population. With a shortage of mental health professionals and appropriate mental health care, the State must actively consider innovative and effective treatment options to address this pressing need.

The legislature further finds that psilocybin has been found to be very effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life psychological distress. As a result, the United States Food and Drug Administration has designated treatment that uses psilocybin in a therapeutic manner for treatment-resistant depression as a "breakthrough therapy".

The legislature also finds that at least two states, Oregon and Colorado, have found that legalizing medicinal psilocybin is a valuable tool in dealing with various mental health conditions.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish the therapeutic psilocybin working group to:

(1) Examine the medicinal and therapeutic effects of psilocybin or psilocybin-based products vis-à-vis mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life psychological distress;

(2) Examine the effectiveness of medicinal and therapeutic uses of psilocybin or psilocybin-based products in treating mental health in the two states that have legalized medicinal psilocybin, Oregon and Colorado; and

(3) Determine and develop a long-term strategic plan to ensure the safe availability and accessibility of affordable therapeutic psilocybin or psilocybin-based products for adults twenty-one years of age or older.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a therapeutic psilocybin working group within the department of health for administrative purposes.

(b) The working group shall:

(1) Examine federal, state, and local laws, regulations, administrative rules, and procedures regarding the therapeutic use of psilocybin;

(2) Examine medical, psychological, and scientific studies, research, and other information relating to the efficacy and safety of psilocybin or psilocybin-based products in treating mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life psychological distress;

(3) Examine existing laws, requirements, and guidelines in jurisdictions in which psilocybin or psilocybin-based products are legally used to treat mental health conditions; and

(4) If appropriate, determine and develop a long-term strategic plan to ensure the safe availability and accessibility of affordable therapeutic psilocybin or psilocybin-based products for adults twenty-one years of age or older.

(1) The executive director of the office of wellness and resilience, or the executive director's respective designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the working group;

(2) The attorney general, or the attorney general's respective designee;

(3) The dean of the John A. Burns school of medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, or the dean's respective designee;

(4) The chairpersons of the senate and house of representatives standing committees whose purview includes health and judiciary, or their respective designees;

(5) The chairperson of the Hawaii state council on mental health, or the chairperson's respective designee;

(6) A physician duly licensed pursuant to chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or an advanced practice registered nurse who is authorized to prescribe psychotropic medication and is duly licensed pursuant to chapter 457, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as invited by the chairperson of the working group;

(7) A psychiatrist duly licensed pursuant to chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes, as invited by the chairperson of the working group; and

(8) Other interested parties with relevant experience and expertise, as invited by the chairperson of the working group.

(d) The members of the working group shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties. No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

(e) The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

(f) The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2025.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the therapeutic psilocybin working group.

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

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1454
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII