Bill Text: HI HB282 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 282

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Mental Health.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 17-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-12-11 - Carried over to 2024 Regular Session. [HB282 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HB282-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	282
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 many homeless people struggle with mental illnesses or substance abuse issues and would benefit from mental health assistance. According to the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately twenty-five per cent of homeless persons in the United States suffer from a severe mental illness. Often, law enforcement officers are dispatched to respond to a homeless person experiencing a mental health crisis but lack the expertise and resources to adequately help. The legislature finds that more effective care could be offered if a mental health professional was available to assist police officers, or other first responders, in responding to mental health crises.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to create a five-year pilot program to expand existing county programs that make one or more mental health professionals available to assist county first responders in responding to mental health crises in areas in the urban core with high rates of homelessness.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the adult mental health division of the department of health a pilot program to expand existing county programs that make one or more mental health professionals available to assist county first responders in responding to mental health crises in areas in the urban core with high rates of homelessness.

(b) The adult mental health division of the department of health shall administer the pilot program in each county having a population of more than six hundred thousand.

(d) The department of health shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including a recommendation on whether the pilot program should be extended or made permanent and any proposed enabling legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.

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 2023-2024 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the pilot program established by section 2 of this Act.

The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

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

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

DOH; Mental Health; Homelessness; County First Responders; Pilot Program; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a five-year pilot program in the department of health to expand existing county programs that make one or more mental health professionals available to assist county first responders in responding to mental health crises in areas in the urban core with high rates of homelessness. Requires a report to the legislature. 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.