Bill Text: HI HB1198 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1198

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Mental Health.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB1198 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB1198-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1198
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to mental health.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, on average, one person in Hawaii dies by suicide every two days. Suicide accounts for twenty-five per cent of all fatal injuries in the State. Suicide is also the fourth leading cause of death for children between the ages of ten and fourteen and the leading cause of death for young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four.

The legislature notes that suicide rates vary by area, with higher rates on neighbor islands and in rural communities. In 2019, the statewide suicide rate was 14.8 deaths for every one hundred thousand individuals. From 2017 to 2019, for every one hundred thousand people, the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui experienced 21.4, 22.0, and 18.4 suicide deaths, respectively. The city and county of Honolulu's suicide rate, at 10.7 suicide deaths for every one hundred thousand people, was slightly lower than the statewide average.

The legislature also notes that, according to the department of health, the percentage of teenagers in Hawaii who consider or attempt suicide are among the highest in the nation. From 2005 to 2013, the percentage of high school-aged children in Hawaii with suicidal ideation ranged from sixteen to twenty per cent. For the same period, the percentage of high school‑aged children treated for a suicide attempt never dipped below three per cent.

The legislature recognizes that suicide attempts, like suicide deaths, have harmful, lasting, and profound impacts on families and communities. For every person who dies by suicide, more than thirty others have made attempts. The legislature is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of all people in the State, including military personnel, veterans, and visitors.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to help reduce suicide rates in the State by establishing the prevent suicide Hawaii task force in the department of health.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established the prevent suicide Hawaii task force, to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes. The task force shall:

(1) Undertake a study to develop general and specific policies and procedures to improve the manner in which suicide prevention is conducted in the State. Specifically, the task force shall:

(A) Consider goals, themes, and formal objectives for a strategic plan to reduce suicides in Hawaii by at least twenty-five per cent by 2025; and

(B) Identify action items and develop proposed legislation to be submitted to the legislature prior to each regular session;

(2) Monitor implementation of the strategic plan and submit annual reports to the legislature on any progress, challenges, and recommendations for adjustments; and

(3) Examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach to prevent suicides in Hawaii.

(b) The task force shall comprise the following members:

(1) One representative of the Joint Military Suicide Prevention Taskforce, to be invited to participate by the governor;

(2) One representative of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Human Services, to be invited to participate by the governor;

(3) One representative of the department of education, to be selected by the superintendent of education;

(4) One representative of the department of public safety, or its successor agency, to be selected by the department director;

(5) One representative of the department of human services, to be selected by the director of human services;

(6) One representative of the judiciary, to be selected by the chief justice of the Hawaii supreme court;

(7) The suicide prevention coordinator for the department of health;

(8) One representative of the department of health's injury prevention and control section, to be selected by the director of health;

(9) One representative of the department of psychiatry of the John A. Burns school of medicine, to be selected by the dean of the John A. Burns school of medicine;

(10) One representative of each county, to be appointed by the governor;

(11) One representative of the Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Council, to be selected by the president of the senate;

(12) One representative of the Youth Suicide Prevention Leadership Council, to be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(13) One representative of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter, to be invited to participate by the governor;

(14) One representative to be selected by the executive director of Mental Health America of Hawaii and invited to participate by the governor;

(15) Two members who are survivors of attempted suicide, to be appointed by the governor;

(16) One member who is a frontline Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association psychiatrist serving rural and underserved communities, to be selected by the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association and invited to participate by the governor;

(17) One representative of the Hawaii Primary Care Association, to be selected by the Hawaii Primary Care Association and invited to participate by the governor;

(18) One member to be selected by the president of the senate; and

(19) One member to be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives.

To the extent possible, all members shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education, or awareness of suicide prevention efforts.

Any vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for by the original appointments.

(c) The task force shall hold its initial meeting no later than thirty days after the effective date of this Act and shall select a chair, vice chair, and any other necessary officers from among its members. A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(d) The chair shall seek to maintain a balanced representation of interests and the inclusion of all interested community members, and may select or invite additional task force members at the chair's discretion.

(e) All meetings of the task force shall be public. The task force shall meet no less frequently than once per quarter. At the discretion of the chair or by the request of a majority of its members, the task force may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary.

(f) Members of the task force shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not be compensated for their services; provided that task force members may be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

(g) The task force shall submit an annual report of its recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session until the task force ceases to exist pursuant to subsection (h).

(h) The task force shall cease to exist on January 1, 2027.

SECTION 3. It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid. If this Act is found to conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH; Prevent Suicide Hawaii Taskforce

Description:

Establishes the prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce within the Department of Health. Requires the task force to make annual recommendations to the Legislature on ways to reduce suicide rates in the State by 25% by 2025. Dissolves the task force on 1/1/2027.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.