STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1884-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 32

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 32 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO INCREASE ACCESS TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL FOR CERTAIN MENTALLY ILL- CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor's Senior Advisor on Mental Health and the Justice System to formulate a plan to create places of shelter for persons under civil commitment or persons who have recently been released from the Hawaii State Hospital and are at risk of recidivism.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii State Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and the Office of the Governor. Your Committee has received testimony with comments from the ACLU of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the State’s current behavioral health and criminal justice systems lack sufficient coordination and capacity to effectively serve mentally ill individuals, particularly those involved in the criminal justice system. Your Committee further finds that the Hawaii State Hospital is operating beyond its planned capacity, with a significant portion of patients undergoing competency evaluations or deemed unfit to proceed, thereby limiting access for others in need of care. Your Committee also finds that existing diversion and treatment programs have not achieved meaningful reductions in the jail population, in part due to limited placement options and system inefficiencies. Your Committee believes that a comprehensive, coordinated plan is necessary to expand access to appropriate treatment and placement options, improve system outcomes, and reduce recidivism among this population; and that the Governors Senior Advisor on Mental Health should take the lead in formulating this plan.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 32 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair