Bill Text: HI SB2539 | 2016 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 2539 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Special Action Team for the Hawaii State Hospital; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2016-03-17 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kawakami, Kong, Oshiro, Say, Souki, Tokioka excused (6). [SB2539 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-SB2539-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2539
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE SPECIAL ACTION TEAM FOR THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

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

SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to establish a special action team for the Hawaii state hospital.

The legislature finds that in June 2012, the governor established, pursuant to executive memorandum, a special action team to address capacity and census issues at the Hawaii state hospital. Members of the team included representatives from various state and county entities. In its October 2012 report to the governor, the team provided expertise and insight in various aspects of the mental health system. The legislature further finds that the effort and input of the special action team were valuable to the governor, director of health, and legislature.

The legislature finds that the establishment of a special action team is again necessary due to remaining capacity and census issues at the Hawaii state hospital.

In addition, the department of health is proposing the development of a new forensic facility at the Hawaii state hospital. Accordingly, the legislature finds that the special action team should also provide advice on the development of that facility.

SECTION 2. Special action team for the Hawaii state hospital; purpose, establishment, termination. (a) There is established a special action team for the Hawaii state hospital within the department of health for administrative purposes.

(b) The purpose of the special action team shall be to assist and advise the department of health in addressing the capacity and census issues at the Hawaii state hospital and expedite the development there of a new forensic facility ready for occupancy by June 30, 2019.

(c) The special action team shall terminate on June 30, 2019; provided that the chair and members of the special action team may represent themselves as such after June 30, 2019, when testifying or commenting on actions or recommendations of the team.

SECTION 3. Membership. (a) The special action team shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The director of health, who shall serve as chair;

(2) The attorney general;

(3) The comptroller;

(4) The director of finance;

(5) The director of human services;

(6) The chairperson of the board of land and natural resources;

(7) The chief executive officer of the Hawaii health systems corporation;

(8) The chief negotiator for the State;

(9) The state public defender;

(10) A circuit court judge appointed by the chief justice; and

(11) The administrative director of the courts.

(b) The chair of the special action team shall invite the following persons to participate:

(1) The prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu; and

(2) The director of planning and permitting of the city and county of Honolulu.

(c) A special action team member may designate another officer or employee of the member's government entity to attend one or more meetings in place of the member. The special action team member shall make the designation in writing and submit it to the special action team chair before the meeting that the designee is designated to attend. The designation may cover more than one meeting or the entire term of the special action team. The designation may be withdrawn at any time by written notice to the special action team chair.

A designee of a special action team member shall have all rights and privileges of a member while serving as a designee.

(d) Members of the special action team shall not receive any compensation for service on the team beyond their normal compensation; provided that members shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred for service on the team.

(e) The special action team may elect officers from among its members.

SECTION 4. Duties. (a) The special action team shall:

(1) Conduct an analysis of the capacity and census issues at the Hawaii state hospital;

(2) Consider options to address the causes of the overcapacity problem at the Hawaii state hospital; and

(3) Develop a priority list of recommendations and proposals for short- and long-term solutions to the overcapacity problem at the Hawaii state hospital.

(b) The special action team shall assist and advise the department of health and department of accounting and general services on the expeditious, efficient, and economical development of a new forensic facility at the Hawaii state hospital. The special action team also may recommend the exemption of the facility from state and county permits or approvals deemed unnecessary for the health and safety of hospital staff and patients. The goal of the special action team shall be to have the new forensic facility constructed and ready for occupancy by June 30, 2019.

SECTION 5. Interim and final reports. (a) The special action team shall prepare interim reports on its actions from July 1, 2016, to December 31, 2016; January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017; and January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. The special action team shall submit the interim reports to the governor and legislature by February 1 of 2017, 2018, and 2019, as applicable. The third interim report shall include a recommendation on whether the special action team should be extended beyond June 30, 2019.

(b) The special action team shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the governor and legislature no less than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2019.

SECTION 6. Appropriation. 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 2016-2017 for the administration and operation of the special action team for the Hawaii state hospital.

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

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2112.

Report Title:

Special Action Team for the Hawaii State Hospital; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes a temporary special action team for the Hawaii State Hospital to address the capacity and census issues at the hospital and the development there of a new forensic facility ready for occupancy by June 30, 2019. Appropriates funds for the team. (SB2539 HD1)

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