STAND. COM. REP. NO. 557

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 203

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 203 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish specific membership, quorum, and voting requirements for the State Council on Mental Health; and

 

     (2)  Establish the State Council on Mental Health within the Department of Health for administrative purposes.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health and three individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

 

Your Committee finds that the State Council on Mental Health supports persons in the community who live with mental illness.  Your Committee further finds that the Council must be able to deliberate and make decisions on issues affecting the mentally ill community.  According to the Department of Health, the Council did not meet twice during fiscal year 2017 and, therefore, was unable to discuss pending legislation.  Your Committee finds that defining quorum based on the number of currently appointed members present immediately before a meeting instead of based on the number of members to which the board is entitled will better enable the Council to meet quorum requirements and ultimately fulfill its purpose of advocating for adults with serious mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbances, other individuals with mental illness or emotional problems, and individuals with combined mental illness and substance abuse disorders.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 203 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair