STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 203-24
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2024
RE: H.B. No. 1831
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1831 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRISIS INTERVENTION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to establish a Behavioral Health Crisis Center Pilot Program in the Department of Health to redirect persons experiencing a mental health crisis who are at risk for involvement with, or involved with, the criminal justice system to the appropriate health care system and services.
Your
Committee finds that thousands of people in the State are arrested each year
for offenses such as drinking liquor in public, loitering in public parks after
hours, and camping in restricted areas such as on sidewalks or beaches. Many of these people suffer from issues
relating to drugs, alcohol, or mental illness and would be better served by
being diverted from the criminal justice system and into the health care
system, where they can receive appropriate health care services.
Your
Committee further finds behavioral health crisis centers provide significant
benefits to the community, including enabling more people in crisis to get help
by creating additional rapid access points for care, reducing law enforcement
time dealing with people in crisis, reducing the use of already over-crowded
emergency rooms, and recognizing cost savings for the community in many areas,
such as reduced criminalization and reduced use of acute care facilities. Your Committee believes that the
establishment and use of behavioral health crisis centers will improve the
government's response to individuals suffering from serious mental illness,
particularly for those who may become, or already are, involved in the criminal
justice system.
Accordingly,
your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language that would statutorily
authorize the Department of Health to establish or contract with behavioral
health crisis centers in every county;
(2) Changing the appropriation for the Behavioral
Health Crisis Center Pilot Program to an unspecified amount;
(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000,
to encourage further discussion; and
(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation of $9,500,000 for the Behavioral Health Crisis Center Pilot Program.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1831, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1831, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health & Homelessness,
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____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair |
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