Bill Text: HI HB2278 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Relating To Health.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-16 - 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) DeCoite, Ing, Nakamura, Onishi, Woodson excused (5). [HB2278 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-HB2278-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	2278
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO HEALTH.

 

 

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

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that suicide is a major health concern that claims approximately one million lives worldwide each year.  In Hawaii, suicide was the most common cause of fatal injuries among Hawaii residents between 2010-2014, accounting for one-quarter of all fatal injuries.  One person dies by suicide in Hawaii every two days.  The legislature is concerned with the health, safety, and welfare of all the people of Hawaii, including military personnel, veterans, and visitors.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Taskforce under the Department of Health.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§321-    prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce  (a)  There is established the prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce, to be placed within the department for administrative purposes.  The prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce shall:

     (1)  Undertake a study to develop both general and specific policies and procedures necessary to improve the manner in which suicide prevention is conducted in the State, in particular, the taskforce shall consider the goals, themes, and formal objectives of the prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce strategic plan to reduce suicides in Hawaii by at least twenty-five percent by 2025 for the purpose of developing action items to produce proposed legislation to deliver annually to the legislature;

     (2)  Monitor implementation of the strategic plan, as well as provide annual updates to the legislature on the progress, challenges, and recommendations for adjustments; and

     (3)  Examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach to best prevent suicides in Hawaii.

     (b)  The prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce shall consist of the following members, or in their absence the appointing official's designee:

     (1)  The suicide prevention coordinator for the department of health;

     (2)  A representative from the department of education, to be appointed by the director of education;

     (3)  A representative from the department of public safety, to be appointed by the director of public safety;

     (4)  A representative from the department of human services, to be appointed by the director of human services;

     (5)  A representative from the judiciary, to be appointed by the chief justice of the Hawaii supreme court;

     (6)  One member from each county, to be appointed by the governor;

     (7)  Two members who are survivors of suicide, to be appointed by the governor;

     (8)  One representative from the United States Army to be appointed by the Governor;

     (9)  One representative from the United States Navy to be appointed by the Governor;

    (10)  One representative from the United States Marine Corps to be appointed by the Governor;

    (11)  One representative from the United States Air Force to be appointed by the Governor;

    (12)  One representative from the United States Coast Guard to be appointed by the Governor;

    (13)  One member to be appointed by the president of the senate;

    (14)  One member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

    (15)  One member from the Hawaii Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention, to be appointed by the president of the senate;

    (16)  One member from the Hawaii Youth Leadership Council for Suicide Prevention, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

    (17)  One member from the department of health's injury prevention and control section, to be appointed by the director of health;

    (18)  One member to be appointed by the dean of the University of Hawaii, John A. Burns school of medicine, from its department of psychiatry;

    (19)  One member to be appointed by the substance abuse and mental health services administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

    (20)  The suicide prevention program manager for the United States Reserves in Hawaii;

    (21)  The president of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

    (22)  The board chair of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter;

    (23)  The community liaison of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Hawaii Chapter; and

    (24)  One member to be appointed by the director or president of Mental Health America Hawaii.

     All appointees shall have expertise in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education or awareness of suicide prevention.

     Any vacancies in the taskforce shall be filled in the manner provided for the original appointments.

     (c)  Upon the initial meeting of the taskforce, to occur no later than thirty days after the passage of this Act, Session Laws of Hawaii 2018, its members shall elect a chair and vice chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members.  A majority of the taskforce shall constitute a quorum to do business.

     (d)  The chair shall seek to maintain a balanced representation of interests and the inclusion of all interested community members and may select additional taskforce members at the chair's discretion.

     (e)  All meetings of the task force shall be public.  The taskforce shall meet no less than quarterly.  The taskforce may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary.  The chair, at the request of a majority of members, may request special meetings.

     (f)  Members of the prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce shall receive no compensation for their services.

     (g)  The prevent suicide Hawaii taskforce shall submit an annual report of its recommendations to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session of the legislature."

     SECTION 3.  It is not the intent of the legislature for this Act to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid.  If this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, this Act shall be deemed void.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

 

 

Report Title:

Prevent Suicide Hawaii Taskforce; Department of Health

 

Description:

Establishes the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Taskforce under the Department of Health to develop annual recommendations to the Legislature to reduce suicide.  (HB2278 HD1)

 

 

 

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