HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2278 |
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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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)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.