STAND. COM. REP. NO. 136

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 979

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 979 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUICIDE PREVENTION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to preserve and protect the lives of Hawaii's children and young adults by establishing a Youth Suicide Early Intervention and Prevention Program.

 

     The Department of Education submitted testimony in support of the intent of this measure.  The Suicide Prevention Steering Committee and Task Force; Mental Health America of Hawaii; the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Oahu; the Hawaii Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness, Research Foundation; and four individuals submitted testimony in support of this measure.  The Department of Health submitted comments.

 

     Your Committees find that suicide is a serious public health tragedy that affects many young people in Hawaii.  Data indicates that children and teenagers between the ages of ten and nineteen years experience the highest death rates in Hawaii, making suicide the second leading cause of death for this age group.  Information, education, and training are essential components to preventing suicide.

 

     It is the Committees' intent to appropriate funds for the establishment of a Youth Suicide Early Intervention and Prevention Program.

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing that the Department of Health shall develop and submit proposals, where appropriate, for funding from federal agencies and private organizations; and

 

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

 

     Your Committees note that while the appropriation amount has been left unspecified, in light of the testimony provided, they recommend $100,000.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 979, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 979, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services and Public Housing and Health,

 

____________________________

DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair