STAND. COM. REP. NO.  251-20

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2020

 

RE:   H.B. No. 933

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 933 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CRISIS INTERVENTION,"

 

beg leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to provide those in need with appropriate care by establishing within the Department of Health a crisis intervention and diversion program to divert individuals in crisis from the criminal justice system and into the health care system.

 

     Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition and two individuals.  Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Judiciary, Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and The Queens Health Systems.

 

     Your Committees find that each year, thousands of individuals in Hawaii are cited or arrested for offenses such as drinking liquor in public; being in public parks after the hours of closure; and camping on sidewalks, beaches, and other restricted public places.  Most of these individuals suffer from issues related to drugs, alcohol, or mental illness.  Many of those cited do not appear in court, which leads to the issuance of bench warrants for their arrest.  Time and resources are being used to bring these individuals to court.  The court system, prosecutors, and police are caught up in a never-ending revolving door situation.  Your Committees further find that mental health service providers have been working with the appropriate law enforcement agencies and criminal justice system in order to implement a crisis intervention program on Oahu.

 

     Your Committees have amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Expanding its preamble;

 

     (2)  Naming this measure in memory of slain Honolulu police department officers Tiffany-Victoria Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama;

 

     (3)  Updating the appropriation section to reflect the current fiscal year;

 

     (4)  Adding a sunset date of June 30, 2023;

 

     (5)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committees respectfully urge that county, state, and federal sources of funding be considered for the crisis intervention and diversion program.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 933, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 933, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness,

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

 

____________________________

JOHN M. MIZUNO, Chair