STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3180

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1854

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1854, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Community Behavioral Health Clinics Certifying Office to certify community behavioral health clinics and provide technical assistance for clinics seeking certification;

(2) Establish the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Oversight Board;

(3) Amend the composition of the Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances and State Council on Mental Health to include a member from the Community Behavioral Health Clinics Certifying Office; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Council on Mental Health, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) represent a national standard for delivering comprehensive, integrated behavioral health care, combining mental health and substance use treatment with crisis services, care coordination, and connections to physical health, ensuring timely access and continuity of care. Your Committee further finds that the CCBHC model strengthens systems by improving service quality and addressing gaps in access to care, particularly for underserved and high-need populations. This measure promotes the expansion of the CCBHC model in the State to meet growing behavioral health needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the total membership of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Oversight Board from ten to nine; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1854, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1854, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair