Bill Text: HI HB2214 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating To The Social Workers For Public Safety Pilot Program For Impaired Offenders.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-28 - Referred to HHH, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 3 [HB2214 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2022-HB2214-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2214 |
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THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to The social workers for public safety pilot program for impaired offenders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION
1. The
legislature finds that public safety officers often lack the resources to
effectively and compassionately resolve the criminality of chronically
unsheltered homeless, mentally impaired, or substance addicted individuals.
Mentally impaired or addicted homeless can unwittingly become repeat
petty-misdemeanor and misdemeanor offenders, cycled endlessly between jails,
hospital emergency rooms, and the streets. Without rehabilitation services they
can become increasingly more impaired and spiral into even worse situations
that put communities at risk. The tragedy in Diamond Head where a mentally ill
individual killed two police officers and caused five homes to burn may have
been prevented if treatment or alternative rehabilitation options were
available.
The
legislature also finds that these individuals often have multiple encounters
with law enforcement however mental impairments interfere with the ability of
chronic homeless to make rational decisions and communicate effectively.
Consequently, miscommunications may result in delayed treatment and increased
risk to responding officers and the community.
The
legislature further finds social workers are professionals trained in assisting
such individuals. Allowing social workers to accompany officers to incidents
where the subject's mental health may be an issue will result in increased
diversion to treatment including but not limited to, shelter, psychiatric care,
and drug abuse treatment, while lowering arrest and incarceration rates.
The
purpose of this Act is to establish the social workers for public safety pilot
program within the department of public safety.
SECTION
2. (a) The
department of public safety shall establish a five-year pilot program to require
social workers to accompany public safety officials to respond to reports of
disorderly conduct, as defined in the Hawaii Revised Statutes section 711-1101,
and other offenses as deemed appropriate, when it is indicated that persons
involved may suffer from substance addiction, mental illness, homelessness, or
other catastrophic afflictions.
(b) During
or prior to dispatching public safety officers to an incident, a social worker
will be assigned to join the response team when substance addiction, mental
illness, homelessness, or other catastrophic afflictions are indicated.
(c) Participation
in the pilot program is optional for detained individuals that may choose not
to interact with the social worker.
(d) Notwithstanding
any other law to the contrary, detained individuals may choose to participate
in the social worker pilot program and follow the social worker's
recommendations in lieu of arrest or citation by public safety officials if
deemed appropriate.
(e) The
department of public safety shall inform the following individuals in writing
of the existence of the pilot program:
(1)
The lieutenant governor;
(2)
The attorney general;
(3)
The public defender;
(4)
The prosecuting attorneys of each county;
(5)
The department of human services;
(6)
The registered members of the criminal justice and corrections
section of the Hawaii State Bar Association; and
(7)
Homeless service providers.
(f) The
department of public safety shall submit interim reports of the pilot program
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
regular sessions of 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, and shall submit a final report
to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the
regular session of 2027. The reports shall include information and
recommendations about the efficacy of and the costs associated with the pilot
program. The final report shall also include a recommendation on whether the
pilot program should be made permanent.
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 and the same sum or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the social workers
for public safety pilot program.
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 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 to fund five
full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the department of public safety
to be known as public safety social workers pursuant to this Act.
The
sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of public
safety for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2022.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Social Worker; Public Safety; Pilot Program; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes a pilot program
in the department of public safety to hire five social workers to accompany
officers on incidents involving persons that may suffer from substance
addiction, mental illness, homelessness, or other catastrophic afflictions.
Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
