STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2488

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2330

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Human Services, Housing, and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2330 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Require 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; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate funds for the pilot project.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from The Institute for Human Services, League of Women Voters, Citizens for a Safer Windward, Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, and ten individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, Department of Human Services, Department of the Attorney General, and Department of Health.

 

     Your Committees find 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.  Your Committees further find that there are limited housing and service programs for homeless individuals with severe mental illness who have been discharged from acute care.  Providing post-acute care and supportive services for these individuals will provide them necessary time to transition into healthier and successful lives.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Deleting language requiring the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, to establish and report on 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;

 

     (2)  Inserting language requiring the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Health, to issue a request for proposal to contract for services and housing for homeless individuals who are discharged from acute care and require further medical assistance and supportive services;

 

     (3)  Amending the purpose of the appropriation to be for costs necessary for services and housing for homeless individuals with severe mental illness who have been discharged from acute care and require further medical treatment and other supportive services; and

 

     (4)  Amending section 1 of the measure to reflect its amended purpose.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services, Housing, and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2330, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2330, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Human Services, Housing, and Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

________________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair

 

________________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair

 

 

________________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair