STAND. COM. REP. NO. 889

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 1242

       S.D. 2

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve trauma-informed care in the State.

 

     Specifically, this measure establishes a trauma-informed care task force to:

 

     (1)  Create, develop, and adopt a statewide framework for trauma-informed and responsive practices;

 

     (2)  Establish best practices for trauma-informed care;

 

     (3)  Provide a trauma-informed care inventory and assessment of public and private agencies and departments;

 

     (4)  Identify cultural practices that build wellness and resilience in communities; and

 

     (5)  Submit a report to the Legislature.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Department of Health, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Kinai Eha, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hale Kipa, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Kamehameha Schools, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Pacific Health, Hawaii Community Foundation, Papa Ola Lokahi, and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that the deadline for the trauma-informed care task force to submit its report to the Legislature prior to the 2023 Regular Session will not provide enough time to gather the stakeholders, develop a consensus, and draft a substantive report.  Extending the report submission deadline by one year will help to provide the time necessary to develop a sustainable interagency plan to implement trauma-informed practices throughout the State.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing the task force with an additional year to submit its report;

 

     (2)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

 

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

 

     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 S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1242, S.D. 2.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair