HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1433

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS STABILIZATION BEDS.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that there are gaps in the State's system to treat individuals with severe behavioral health needs who may not require emergency room-level crisis care.  One such gap is the limited number of behavioral health crisis stabilization beds that use intensive case management services to help stabilize these individuals.

     As noted in a 2018 Journal of Mental Health and Clinical Psychology article entitled "Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Centers: A New Normal", there has been a promising shift in resources and funding from institutionalized care to crisis stabilization centers.  However, the crisis stabilization center approach has been underfunded and often results in individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis seeking treatment at hospital emergency rooms and utilizing a great amount of health care resources with short-term outcomes.  Studies have shown that the cost of crisis stabilization centers is significantly less than emergency rooms and psychiatric inpatient units.  The legislature finds that the department of health is currently exploring options to increase the number of behavioral health crisis stabilization beds across the State and estimates that the cost will be at least $11,000,000.

     The Legislature also notes that the Judiciary supports the increase in the number of stabilization beds because they will aid in fulfilling the requirements of Act 26 (2020) and other requirements of Chapter 704 of the Hawai'i Revised Statutes. In addition, they would provide alternatives for patients while their cases are pending, as well as upon final disposition of their cases. It also has the potential to divert those suffering mental health crises from the criminal justice system.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1) Appropriate funds to the adult mental health division of the department of health to support increased behavioral health crisis stabilization beds throughout the state.

     (2) Create a working group with the counties to identify sites for these new crisis stabilization beds to be located and to study the possibility of turning the old Hawaii State Hospital into a crisis stabilization bed facility.

     SECTION 2. The department of health adult mental health division shall establish a working group to include members of the county behavior crisis responders to identify locations and facilities that could be used, renovated, or built, to increase the number of stabilization beds in each county.  The working group shall consider the option of using the old Hawaii State Hospital (Guensburg building) as a possible site.

     SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 for behavioral health crisis stabilization beds.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health adult mental health division for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.


 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Beds; Working Group; Department of Health; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to support increased behavioral health crisis stabilization beds.  Creates a working group to get county input on possible sites for these crisis stabilization beds.  Effective 7/1/2023. 

 

 

 

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