Bill Text: HI HB2280 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii House Bill 2280 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Health.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-03-15 - The committee on CPH deferred the measure. [HB2280 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2280-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2280
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH.

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

SECTION 1. (a) The legislature finds that the Hawaii state hospital has faced a number of recurring issues over the past several years, including workplace safety issues, employment and human resources matters, and difficulty meeting the needs of patients due to the inefficient use of facilities. Although the legislative and executive branches have attempted to address these issues through investigative committees and special action teams, concerns about the administration of the hospital persist.

The need for the continued concern was made evident by the recent high profile escape of a committed patient from the hospital. The legislature finds that this escape, perhaps the most visible incident at the hospital in recent history, was unfortunately not an isolated incident. In fact, there have been over one hundred escape incidents, also known as "elopements", from the Hawaii state hospital since 2001. This high figure has raised justifiable concerns about public safety from the residents of the windward Oahu community.

In response to these concerns, the Hawaii state hospital has taken a number of corrective actions, including:

(1) Placing employees involved in the recent high profile escape on administrative leave pending an investigation by the attorney general;

(2) Completing a public safety audit;

(3) Consulting with the Oahu community correctional center and the Colorado Mental Health Institute to investigate the use of GPS monitoring;

(4) Adding additional fencing on the hospital campus;

(5) Creating a satellite medical unit and lab station to reduce the number of patient transports;

(6) Preparing the relocation of certain programs pending security enhancements;

(7) Requiring that all patients leaving secured areas wear restraints;

(8) Suspending off-grounds escorted privileges;

(9) Implementing new procedures for census counts;

(10) Conducting additional unannounced unit searches;

(11) Retraining staff; and

(12) Relocating a security post to improve visibility.

In addition to these actions, the legislature notes that the Hawaii state hospital has established a security corrective action plan. The hospital has already implemented portions of the plan, including updating its communication plan to notify the community in case of an escape and the installation of new locking systems, security window screens, and fences to improve security. However, the legislature finds that implementing other portions of the plan will require an additional investment of resources.

(b) The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of health to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Hawaii state hospital security corrective action plan.

Specifically, this Act:

(1) Appropriates funds for the purchase of electronic ankle monitoring bracelets and additional metal detector hand wands;

(2) Appropriates funds for the purchase and installation of additional lighting and closed circuit television cameras; and

(3) Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund capital improvement projects at the Hawaii state hospital campus to improve hospital security.

SECTION 2. 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 2018-2019 for the purchase of electronic ankle monitoring bracelets and metal detector hand wands for the Hawaii state hospital.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

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 2018-2019 for the purchase and installation of perimeter lighting and signage on the Hawaii state hospital campus.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 4. 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 2018-2019 for the purchase and installation of closed circuit television cameras at the Hawaii state hospital to monitor new security fencing areas and other portions of the campus.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 5. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2018-2019 for the purpose of capital improvement projects for the Hawaii state hospital, as follows:

1. Replacement of the sally port gate #1 at unit F with a rolling gate.

Design $

Construction $

Total Funding $

2. Relocation of the post 1 guard shack and entry road closer to Cooke building.

Planning $

Design $

Construction $

Total Funding $

3. Design and construction of an operating locked gate at the Ala Koolau drive entrance.

Design $

Construction $

Total Funding $

4. Design and construction of a security fence encompassing the Hawaii state hospital campus, possibly including the Aloha Garden.

Design $

Construction $

Total Funding $

SECTION 6. The appropriation made for the capital improvement projects authorized by section 5 of this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2020, shall lapse as of that date.

SECTION 7. The sums appropriated for the respective capital projects set forth in section 5 shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of that section.

SECTION 8. The department of health shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2019, 2020, and 2021. The report shall include:

(1) An update of the department's progress in implementing the security corrective action plan;

(2) The number of elopements, if any, during the previous year; and

(3) Any other findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation.

SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

DOH; Hawaii State Hospital; Security Corrective Plan; CIP; GO Bonds; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase electronic ankle monitoring bracelets, hand wands, lighting, and closed circuit television cameras for the Hawaii State Hospital. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund capital improvement projects at the Hawaii State Hospital to improve security. (HB2280 HD2)

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