STAND. COM. REP. NO.70

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 829

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 829 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE HALEIWA PSYCHOLOGICAL REHABILITATION CENTER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make an appropriation for the vocational and psychosocial rehabilitation plan of the Haleiwa Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center (Center).

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Health, Empower North Shore Oahu, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – Oahu, Alluvion, Inc., North Shore Community Land Trust, and twenty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Health has developed a community plan for mental health services (Community Plan) collaboratively with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang and Chief District Judge David Ezra. The Community Plan provides continuity of care and ensures availability of services for existing and prospective patients of the Hawaii State Hospital.

A major component of the Community Plan is the development of a vocational and psychosocial rehabilitation plan to provide various services, including transitional employment, supported employment, vocational assessment and counseling, educational programs, and life-skills development programs. To deliver these services, the Department of Health has pioneered the concept of a micro-enterprise for a consumer-run psychosocial rehabilitation center via the Center. Your Committee finds that many individuals have benefited greatly from the Center's services and that this measure provides the necessary funds to ensure its sustainability and provide an opportunity for further growth.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making a technical amendment for consistency with the title of this measure. Your Committee does acknowledge that the title incorrectly uses the term "psychological" rather than "psychosocial". However, your Committee believes that the program referenced in this measure is of substantial value and the appropriation should be considered by your Committee on Ways and Means for inclusion in the budget or other related measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 829, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 829, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair