STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2859

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3141

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3141, S.D. 1, 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 improve data tracking and mental health services for persons experiencing mental health crises.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Health to track and publicly report certain data relating to crisis reports, emergency mental health transports, and court-ordered treatments;

(2) Requires the Department of Health to respond to reports about persons having severe mental illnesses who are in need of assessment, assess whether the person may fulfill the criteria for assisted community treatment, and coordinate the process for an assisted community treatment order if indicated;

(3) Establishes that a court's denial of a petition for involuntary commitment serves as notification to the Department of Health that the person should be evaluated for assisted community treatment;

(4) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Health for software, data collection, and data publication; and

(5) Appropriates moneys to the Department of Health for statewide education and training on policies related to emergency examination and hospitalization and assisted community treatment.

Your Committees received written comments in support of this measure from the State Council on Mental Health, Disability and Communication Access Board, Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration, and Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.

Your Committees received written comments on this measure from the Queen's Health System.

Your Committees find that the data tracking and mental health services required by this measure will help establish baseline metrics and improve the State's continuum of care for persons experiencing mental health crises.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Repealing the sunset date of Act 111, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, which allows a patient who has been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility to be ordered to receive treatment over the patient's objection; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive edits for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3141, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3141, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair