Bill Text: HI SB2791 | 2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To Juvenile Justice Reform.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-07-11 - Act 208, 07/10/2018 (Gov. Msg. No. 1317). [SB2791 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2018-SB2791-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2791 |
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TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. In 2014, the legislature passed Act 201, Session Laws of Hawaii 2014, (Act 201), to reform Hawaii's juvenile justice system, commit to improve outcomes for Hawaii's youth in the juvenile justice system, and maximize the effective use of the Hawaii youth correctional facilities' appropriations and treatment options.
With incarceration costing over $200,000 annually per bed, diversion of youth away from the traditional incarceration model of the Hawaii youth correctional facilities to an alternative therapeutic and rehabilitative program has substantially reduced the facilities' population and expenses.
The legislature finds that critical services to reduce delinquency, including mental health, youth homelessness, vocational services, and substance abuse treatment, are still insufficiently resourced and inaccessible to Hawaii's at-risk youth population.
Hawaii's commitment to the prevention of juvenile delinquency and support of Hawaii's youth must also include services for homeless, drug addicted, mentally ill, and trafficked youth. The 2017 Hawaii statewide point in time count reported the increasing significance of unaccompanied youth and youth who are parents who are experiencing homelessness. For purposes of the point in time count, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development defines youth as individuals twenty-four years or younger. Hawaii's 2017 point in time count reported three hundred nineteen unaccompanied youth, with two hundred sixty-three, or eighty-two per cent, living unsheltered. Twenty-four individuals under the age of eighteen were found living unsheltered without any accompanying adults. The total unaccompanied youth count of three hundred sixteen was similar to the three hundred nine unaccompanied youth counted in 2016.
In accordance with Act 119, Session Laws of Hawaii 2015, as amended by Act 124, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016, the department of human services identified a gap in services for homeless youth aged twenty-four and under. The department noted that the population of unaccompanied youth is difficult to count as these youth tend to be mobile and transient, some do not want to be found, and unaccompanied youth are generally not connected to the formal support service system.
The legislature further finds that, although overall juvenile arrests are down, recent news reports indicate an increase in juvenile arrests, particularly in Waikiki involving youth who may also be homeless.
Regarding
substance use by youth, most recent reports show that while use of marijuana
and cigarettes appear to be declining amongst youth aged twelve to seventeen,
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published Behavioral
Health Barometer: Hawaii, Volume 4: Indicators as measured through the 2015
National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the National Survey of Substance Abuse
Treatment Services, and the Uniform Reporting System (SAMHSA report). The SAMHSA report states, "In Hawaii, an annual average
of about 6,000 adolescents aged 12-17 (6.2% of all adolescents) in 2014–2015
used marijuana in the past month. The
annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was lower than the annual average
percentage in 2011–2012." With regard to cigarette use, the same report
states, "In Hawaii, an annual average of about 3,000 adolescents
aged 12-17 (3.1% of all adolescents) in 2014–2015 used cigarettes in the past
month. The annual average percentage in
2014–2015 was lower than the annual average percentage in 2011–2012." As
to alcohol use in the last month, the report states, "In Hawaii, an
annual average of about 10,000 adolescents aged 12-17 (10.6% of all
adolescents) in 2014–2015 used alcohol in the past month.
The annual average percentage
in 2014–2015 was not significantly different from the annual average percentage
in 2011–2012."
Act 201 paved the way to improved working
relationships between and among the judiciary, department of health, department
of education, department of human services, and office of youth services. However, securing mental health treatment
services for Hawaii's most troubled youth remains problematic. To avoid continued placement of Hawaii's
youth in mainland facilities, a secured mental health treatment facility in
Hawaii is preferred. In addition, the
SAMHSA report states, "In Hawaii, an annual average of about 10,000 adolescents
aged twelve to seventeen (9.9% of all adolescents) in 2014–2015 had experienced
a [major depressive episode] in the past year. The annual average percentage in 2014–2015 was
not significantly different from the annual average percentage in 2011–2012."
In addition, the SAMHSA report states, "In
Hawaii, an annual average of about 3,000 adolescents aged 12-17 with past year [major
depressive episode] (32.6% of all adolescents with past year [major depressive
episode]) from 2009 to 2015 received treatment for their depression in the past
year."
To improve access by adolescents to mental
health services, the legislature passed Act 181, Session Laws of Hawaii 2016,
which reduced the age of consent for adolescent mental health services to fourteen years
old. Conference committee report no.
11-16 states:
The purpose of this
measure is to reduce barriers to accessing mental health services for minors by
lowering the age of consent to receive treatment and services, other than
prescription medication or out-of-home or residential treatment, from eighteen
years of age to fourteen years.
Your Committee on
Conference finds that requiring parental consent for minors to receive
substance abuse treatment and family planning services may pose a barrier to
health care. Minors may find desired
mental health services inaccessible due to the discomfort and even opposition
caused by obtaining parental consent. By
allowing access to mental health services for consenting minors of a certain
age, individuals seeking improved emotional and mental well-being may be served
in a timely manner.
With
regard to youth who may also be victims of human trafficking, in 2017, the
legislature passed Act 16, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017 (Act 16), which brought
the State into compliance with the federal Justice for Victims of Trafficking
Act of 2015 and the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of
2010. Act 16, among other things,
amended the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to include sex
trafficking or severe forms of trafficking in persons.
Hawaii is not isolated from human and sex
trafficking. Hawaii's location in the
Pacific makes it a highly sought after tourist destination and lucrative place
for national and international conferences, thereby creating a demand for
prostitution, which may include sex trafficking of minors.
Youth in
foster care are at a higher risk of being victims of sex trafficking because of
the often continuing vulnerabilities that stem from being maltreated or
neglected as children. It is difficult
to obtain an accurate picture of this issue due to the covert nature of sex
trafficking and the fact that victims may not and do not identify themselves as
victims. However, it is anticipated that
with the change in mandated reporting requirements, the numbers of youth who
are victims of human trafficking in the State will be better identified.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Support ho‘opono mamo, the new Hawaii youth diversion system, through the establishment of the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center, operated and maintained by the Hawaii youth correctional facilities;
(2) Improve and enhance Hawaii's juvenile justice system by strengthening services available to prevent juvenile delinquency and recidivism and to support rehabilitation; and
(3) Re-invest savings from the reduction of the number of youth in secure confinement at Hawaii youth correctional facility into the provision of services to prevent juvenile delinquency, specifically mental health and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, and to provide a more successful and supportive community reentry transition.
SECTION 2. Chapter 352, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§352- Hawaii
youth correctional facilities; Kawailoa youth and family wellness center
authority. (a) The office of youth services shall designate
the Hawaii youth correctional facilities as the authority to establish, build,
repair, maintain, and operate the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center, as
set forth in section 352D- , from funds appropriated or approved by
the legislature for the purposes, facilities, and programs necessary to
implement this chapter and chapter 352D.
(b)
Persons committed to the Hawaii youth correctional
facilities shall be kept segregated from the diverted and youth at risk and
young adults at risk admitted to the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center."
SECTION 3.
Chapter 352D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new
section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§352D- Kawailoa youth and family wellness center;
creation. (a) The office of youth services shall create and
develop a central youth service center, to be called the Kawailoa youth and
family wellness center, at the site of the Hawaii youth correctional facilities. The Hawaii youth correctional facilities
shall operate and maintain the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center,
within the scope of the authority granted to it by the office of youth services
pursuant to section 352- .
(b)
The primary objective of the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center
is delinquency prevention as set forth in section 352D-7.
(c)
All youth in need of services and all young
adults at risk shall be eligible for services at the Kawailoa youth and family
wellness center.
(d)
The objectives of the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center shall be
to:
(1) Offer residential programs in delinquency prevention,
including youth services, as defined in section 352D‑3;
(2) Provide a wider range of informal dispositions,
particularly alternatives to the juvenile justice system; and
(3) Develop an improved system of intake, assessment, and
follow-up for youth and young adults at risk.
(e) The Kawailoa youth and family wellness center
programs may include but shall not be limited to the establishment and
operation of mental health services and programs, substance abuse treatment
programs, crisis shelters for homeless youth, crisis shelters for victims of
human and sex trafficking, vocational training, group homes, day treatment
programs, aftercare, independent and family counseling services, educational
services, and other services that may be required to meet the needs of youth or
young adults."
SECTION 4. Section 352-2.1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§352-2.1 Purpose. (a) This chapter creates within the department of human services, and to be placed within the office of youth services under the supervision of the director and such other subordinates as the director shall designate, the Hawaii youth correctional facilities, to provide for the custody, rehabilitation, and institutional care and services to prepare for reentry into their communities and families, youth committed by the courts of the State.
(b) This chapter further creates within the
department of human services, and to be placed within the office of youth
services under the supervision of the director and such other subordinates as
the director shall designate, and under the supervision of the Hawaii youth
correctional facilities, a youth
services center called the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center, to
provide services and programs for youth at risk in the State and young adults
at risk between the ages of eighteen and
twenty-four, to prevent delinquency and reduce the incidence of recidivism
among youth and young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four
through the provision of prevention, rehabilitation, and treatment services.
[(b)] (c) The policy and purpose of this chapter is to
harmonize the sometimes conflicting requirements of public safety, secure
placement, and individualized services for law violators in the custody and
care of the director. To that end, the
director shall provide the opportunity for intelligence and aptitude
evaluation, psychological testing and counseling, prevocational and vocational
training, and employment counseling to all persons committed to the Hawaii
youth correctional facilities[.] and to all youth and young adults between
the ages of eighteen and twenty-four admitted to the Kawailoa youth and family
wellness center. Counseling services
shall be available to the committed or admitted person's or young
adult's family during the term of commitment[.] or admission to
the Kawailoa youth and family wellness center. The director shall coordinate services
provided to the facilities by other departments and agencies, to realize these
policies and purposes."
SECTION 5. Section 352D-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows:
""Young adult at risk" or "young adult" means any adult between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four who has been arrested, who has had contact with the police, who is experiencing social, emotional, psychological, educational, physical problems, or who is no longer eligible for child protective services provided by the State due to the adult's age."
SECTION 6. Section 352D-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"352D-7 Youth services centers; creation. (a) Beginning July 1, 1991, the office of youth
services shall create, develop, and operate youth service centers throughout
the State, including one or more in each county[.] and
including the Kawailia youth and family wellness center pursuant to section
352D- . This may be done
either directly or by contract with private parties. Delinquency prevention shall be a primary
objective of these centers. The
population eligible for services at the centers shall be all youths in need of
services[.] and all young adults at risk. All referrals and admissions to a youth
services center shall be voluntary. Centers
shall also develop individualized intake capabilities, program plans, delivery
of services, and a comprehensive referral network. The objectives of the youth service centers
shall be to:
(1) Develop and implement programs in delinquency prevention;
(2) Provide a wider range of informal dispositions, particularly alternatives to the juvenile justice system;
(3) Develop an
improved system of intake, assessment, and follow-up for youths[;], including
youth at risk and young adults at risk; and
(4) Provide better coordination of juvenile justice and nonjuvenile justice services in order to reduce overlaps and gaps in services.
(b) Each center shall:
(1) Be responsible for coordinating all services, justice system or non-justice system, both public and private, to the youth and young adults at risk referred to it; and
(2) Be responsive to the needs of its immediate community and offer an array of services that are tailored to the needs of its constituents.
(c)
Every youth and young adult at risk referred to a youth services
center shall, as soon as possible, be appropriately placed with a service
provider and provided services. The center
shall develop procedures [which] that will [insure] ensure
that appropriate service providers are available on a twenty-four hour basis
for each youth[.] and young adult at risk. The center may contract with such service
providers for such services.
(d) Each
youth service center shall maintain a registry of every youth and young
adult at risk referred to it and shall monitor and supervise the follow-up
services that are provided to the youth[.] and young adult at risk.
Each center shall be primarily
responsible to ensure that [the] each youth is fully diverted
from the juvenile justice system."
SECTION 7. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 8. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
Department of Human Services; Office of Youth Services; Juvenile Justice Reform; Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center
Description:
Establishes the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center and changes the approach of juvenile justice to a therapeutic model. (SD1)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
