Bill Text: HI HB1540 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Bill 1540 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Heroin and Opioids; Abuse; Prevention; Task Force; Established

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-25 - Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 1 [HB1540 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2016-HB1540-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1540
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to DRUG abuse.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed among teens and young adults in the United States, with rates tripling or quadrupling in one out of every three states during the past decade, according to a November 2015 report by the Trust for America's Health. The report, entitled "Reducing Teen Substance Misuse: What Really Works", noted that the death rate for drug overdoses more than doubled in eighteen states, including Hawaii, and that many young people who are addicted to prescription drugs switch to heroin because it is often cheaper and easier to access. The report also stated that prescription painkillers were responsible for more than half of the nation's drug overdose deaths in 2013, accounting for 22,700 fatalities, and that young adults ages nineteen to twenty-five are particularly at risk for a fatal overdose. The legislature finds that these statistics point to the need for an increased focus on early drug intervention to prevent illegal drug use and addiction among young people.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to establish a heroin and opioid abuse task force.

SECTION 2. (a) There is established a heroin and opioid abuse task force to examine the increasing threat of heroin and opioid abuse in Hawaii and potential responses to that threat.

(b) The task force shall be composed of the following:

(1) The attorney general, or the attorney general's designee;

(2) The director of health, or the director's designee;

(3) The prosecuting attorney of the city and county of Honolulu, or the prosecuting attorney's designee;

(4) A police chief chosen by the state Law Enforcement Coalition, or the police chief's designee;

(5) A member of the senate to be selected by the senate president; and

(6) A member of the house or representatives to be selected by the house speaker.

(1) The Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii; and

(2) The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

(d) The members of the task force shall elect a chairperson from among themselves.

(e) The duties of the task force shall be to review, in consultation with relevant experts as necessary, and make recommendations relating to:

(1) Amending statutes, including those pertaining to penalties, relating to the distribution of heroin;

(2) Amending statutes, including those pertaining to penalties, relating to the distribution of fentanyl;

(3) Requiring insurance companies to use uniform evaluation criteria for substance abuse treatment and removing prior authorization requirements;

(4) Mandating greater use of the State's prescription drug monitoring program and upgrading its technology; and

(5) Continuing medical education relating to prescribing schedule II, III, and IV drugs, as defined in chapter 329, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(f) The task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2017.

(g) The task force shall cease to exist upon adjournment of the regular session of 2017.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Heroin and Opioids; Abuse; Prevention; Task Force; Established

Description:

Establishes the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force to develop recommendations for the prevention of and response to abuse of heroin and opioids. Requires a report.

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