Bill Text: HI HB649 | 2013 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Mental Health; Adult Mental Health; Homeless Services; Appropriation ($)

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-15 - 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 Carroll, Coffman, Hanohano, Har, Kawakami, Ward excused (6). [HB649 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HB649-Amended.html

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STAND. COM. REP. NO.  556

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

 

RE:   H.B. No. 649

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 649 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to improve access to mental health services by:

 

     (1)  Expanding eligibility for mental health services by adding definitions for "qualifying diagnosis" and "severe and persistent mental illness" and requiring the provision of services to individuals with a qualifying diagnosis;

 

     (2)  Appropriating funds for mental health services previously eliminated or reduced; and

 

     (3)  Appropriating funds for substance abuse treatment and mental health support services for individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

 

     The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Mental Health America of Hawaii, and the Community Alliance for Mental Health testified in support of the measure.  The Hawaii Substance Abuse Council testified in support of the measure with amendments.  The Department of Health testified in opposition of the measure.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing further specification about the standards and rules for services established by the Department of Health;

 

     (2)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 649, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 649, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

 

 

		____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair