HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

541

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Act 263, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, is amended by amending section 1 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 1.  (a)  There is established within the department of health a working group to [evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems and identify steps that may be taken to promote effective integration to more effectively respond to and coordinate care for persons experiencing substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.] identify gaps in services, coordinate funding sources, and establish and identify outcome measures for behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness.

     (b)  The working group shall consist of the following members:

     (1)  The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as chair;

     (2)  One representative from the behavioral health services administration of the department of health;

     (3)  One representative of the department of public safety;

     (4)  One representative from the med-QUEST division of the department of human services;

     (5)  One representative of the judiciary;

     (6)  One representative from the insurance division of the department of commerce and consumer affairs;

     (7)  [One or more representatives of the Hawaii Opioid Initiative executive steering committee;] The governor's coordinator on homelessness, or the coordinator's designee;

     (8)  One representative from each entity operating a health plan in the State, who the director of health shall invite to participate on the working group;

     (9)  One or more members of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, who the director of health shall invite to participate on the working group;

    (10)  One representative of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness;

    (11)  One representative from the office of Hawaiian affairs;

    (12)  One representative from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns school of medicine department of psychiatry who is affiliated with the American society of addiction medicine;

   [(11)] (13)  One clinical social worker licensed under chapter 467E, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

   [(12)] (14)  Others as recommended by the working group.

     (c)  The working group shall evaluate:

     (1)  Inventory of funding streams and their metrics;

     (2)  Currently existing barriers to treatment access;

     (3)  Policies and practices that perpetuate or substantially contribute to access barriers;

     (4)  Practices that would improve care coordination and increase access to care;

     (5)  Policies or legislative actions that are recommended to effectuate coordinated entry and coordinated systems of behavioral health care; and

     (6)  Defined roles and responsibilities recommended of state, county, and community entities.

     (d)  Members of the working group shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses.  No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

     (e)  Two or more members of the working group, but less than the number of members [which] that would constitute a quorum for the working group, may discuss between themselves matters relating to official business of the working group to enable them to faithfully perform their duties to the working group and the organizations they represent, as long as no commitment to vote is made or sought.  Such discussions shall be a permitted interaction under section 92-2.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

     (f)  The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of [2020.] 2022.

     (g)  The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, [2021.] 2023."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.



 

Report Title:

Department of Health; Working Group; Behavioral Health Care

 

Description:

Establishes a working group within the department of health to identify gaps in services, coordinate funding sources, and establish and identify outcome measures for behavioral health, substance abuse, and homelessness.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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