HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2021

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to Homeless individuals with severe mental illness.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the State has a gap in services for homeless individuals with severe mental illness, as these individuals often cycle between homelessness, emergency room treatment, incarceration, and hospitalization.  Individuals with severe mental illness typically become chronically homeless and further burden the health care system through excessive use of expensive emergency department, inpatient treatment, and crisis services.  Due to their mental illness, these individuals routinely reject offered services and remain on the street, putting themselves at risk of further injury and creating a significant burden on the communities where they reside.

     The State of Hawaii has always authorized the involuntary commitment of individuals to mental health services.  However, currently no mental health service providers in Hawaii provide housing and services for individuals subject to non-forensic court-ordered involuntary commitment.  By establishing a pilot project to provide housing and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness, the State can directly place these individuals into housing and provide mental health care services in a timely and impactful manner.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the department of human services, in consultation with the department of health, to establish a pilot project to provide housing and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness who are subject to court-ordered involuntary hospitalization pursuant to part IV of chapter 334, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of human services, in consultation with the department of health, shall establish a pilot project to operate a facility to provide shelter and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness who are subject to court-ordered involuntary hospitalization to a psychiatric facility, pursuant to part IV of chapter 334, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with the goal of enabling these individuals to find permanent housing through housing first programs.

     (b)  No more than ten severely mentally ill homeless individuals may receive shelter and mental health treatment at the facility at any given time.

     (c)  The department of human services shall use an unused residential facility within the Hawaii youth correctional facilities to provide shelter and mental health treatment services; provided that the department shall make any necessary changes to the facility to serve individuals with severe mental illness.

     (d)  The pilot project shall end on June 30,     .  The department of human services, in consultation with the governor's coordinator on homelessness, shall submit a report detailing findings and recommendations regarding the pilot project, including findings regarding the pilot project's contribution to successfully transitioning homeless individuals with severe mental illness to permanent housing, challenges or failures of the pilot project, and any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of     .

     (e)  The department of human services may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to effectuate this Act.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2018-2019 to establish a pilot project to operate a facility, including administrative expenses and any necessary renovations to the facility, to provide shelter and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness pursuant to this Act.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2018.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Individuals with Severe Mental Illness; Homeless; Facility; Appropriation

 

Description:

Requires the department of human services, in consultation with the department of health, to establish a pilot project to operate a facility to provide shelter and mental health treatment for homeless individuals with severe mental illness who are subject to court-ordered involuntary hospitalization to a psychiatric facility.  Appropriates funds.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.