STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1293

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1044

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 1044, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to hire complex-based behavioral health specialists for rural public schools in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Opportunity Youth Action Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Association of School Psychologists.

Your Committee finds that suicide rates and suicide attempts are disproportionately high among Hawaii's youth. According to the Department of Health, between 2005 and 2013, up to twenty percent of high school-aged children in the State had suicidal ideation. Your Committee recognizes that these rates show the need for additional behavioral health specialists to provide mental health services in the State's rural schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that the Department of Education, as highlighted in its testimony, is requesting funding for two behavioral health specialist positions for each of the following seven complex areas:

(1) Hilo-Waiakea Complex;

(2) Kau-Keeau-Pahoa Complex;

(3) Honokaa-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena Complex;

(4) Kapaa-Kauai-Waimea Complex;

(5) Hana-Lahainaluna-Lanai-Molokai Complex;

(6) Nanakuli-Waianae Complex; and

(7) Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kulanihakoi-Maui Complex.

Your Committee respectfully request that your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $974,918.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1044, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1044, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health & Homelessness.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair