Bill Text: HI SB2919 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Department of Public Safety; Security of Hawaii State Hospital
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2010-07-06 - (S) Vetoed on 07-06-10 - Returned from the Governor without approval (Gov. Msg. No. 679). [SB2919 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2919-Introduced.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2919 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the Hawaii state hospital has suffered budget cuts and reductions in security positions, leaving the hospital vulnerable to escapes and security risks. Averaging six escapes a year and with numerous assaults upon staff, the high occupancy at the hospital, coupled with the budget cuts and security reductions, have compromised and jeopardized the safety of the workers and patients at the facility, as well as the community and surrounding neighborhood.
The patients at the Hawaii state hospital are considered to be in need of confinement, including forensic patients committed to institutionalization by the courts. The recent escape on December 3, 2010 of a forensic patient who was committed to the hospital in 2002 after allegedly committing kidnapping and sexual assault on a child further illustrates the current security deficit at the hospital.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Clarify the duties of the department of public safety to include security at the Hawaii state hospital; and
(2) Require the director of health, in collaboration with the director of public safety, to report to the legislature on appropriate security measures and short- and long-range plans for security of the increasing and aging forensic population at the hospital.
SECTION 2. Section 26-14.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The department of public safety
shall be responsible for the formulation and implementation of state policies
and objectives for correctional, security, law enforcement, and public safety
programs and functions, for the administration and maintenance of all public or
private correctional facilities and services, for the service of process, and
for the security of state buildings[.] and the State's secure psychiatric
rehabilitation facility located in Kaneohe."
SECTION 3. Section 334-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§334-4 Personnel for mental health program. (a) The director shall appoint professional and nonprofessional staff as the director deems necessary to carry out the state mental health program and for which appropriations are available. Positions for psychiatrists are exempted from chapter 76. The director may employ psychiatrists as needed by the department on a contractual basis, subject to the approval of the governor. The director may appoint an administrator, three associate administrators, a director of psychosocial rehabilitation, a chief of the department of nursing, a risk manager, a patients’ rights advisor, and a facilities plant engineer for the state hospital or a secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility established pursuant to this chapter and these positions shall be exempt from chapter 76.
(b) Beginning September 1, 2010, security for the secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility located in Kaneohe shall be provided by the department of public safety under section 26‑14.6; provided that the department of health may advise the department of public safety on the appropriate level of security."
SECTION 4. The director health, with collaboration of the director of public safety, shall report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2011 on:
(1) Its plan, strategies, and timetable for ensuring the provision of appropriate levels of security at the secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility located in Kaneohe over the long term; and
(2) Short- and long-term strategies and plans to address the State's increasing and aging forensic population, including but not limited to, facility needs, capacity issues, and other off-site options.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Department of Public Safety; Security of State Hospital
Description:
Requires the department of public safety to provide security at the State's secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility at Kaneohe. Requires report from DOH, with collaboration from PSD, to the legislature on its plan for the provision of short and long-term security for the Kaneohe facility and increasing and aging forensic population needs.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
