STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3359

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 1703

       H.D. 2

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1703, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve the resources for student mental health treatment at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by appropriating funds for additional mental health care professionals.

 

     Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii Student Caucus, and six individuals. 

 

     Your Committee finds that, in recent years, college students nationwide have reported increased levels of anxiety and depression.  Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii at Manoa provided mental health services to approximately 1,300 students during the 2014-2015 school year.  However, due to high demand for services, some students with non-urgent mental health care needs were placed on the waitlist for services.  Your Committee finds that increasing the number of psychologists and case managers available to assist students will help alleviate the current heavy workload of the Counseling and Student Development Center and increase the University's capacity to assist students through proactive educational efforts.

 

     Your Committee notes that the University of Hawaii has requested 3.00 full-time equivalent psychologist positions at a total estimated cost of $265,788, and 1.00 full-time equivalent case manager position at an estimated cost of $75,924.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1703, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1703, H.D. 2, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

 

 

 

________________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair