Bill Text: HI SB3234 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 3234 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating To Health.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-28 - Referred to HTH/HMS, WAM. [SB3234 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SB3234-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3234
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
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 residents between 2010 and 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 legislature further finds that the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force is a partnership of state, public, and private agencies and community groups working in collaboration to provide leadership, develop strategies, coordinate activities, and monitor progress of suicide prevention efforts in the State. The Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force provides leadership for suicide prevention activities statewide, including National Suicide Prevention Week and suicide prevention conferences. The prevent suicide Hawaii task force is a valuable ally in the effort to save lives from suicide. Pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 66, Senate Draft 1 (2016), the prevent suicide Hawaii task force prepared and submitted to the legislature, in December of 2017, a strategic plan to reduce suicides in the State by at least twenty-five per cent by 2025 (strategic plan).

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to formally recognize and codify the prevent suicide Hawaii task force, to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes, for purposes of monitoring and implementing its strategic plan to reduce suicides in Hawaii by at least twenty-five per cent by 2025.

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

"§321- Suicide prevention Hawaii task force; established. (a) There is established the prevent suicide Hawaii task force to be placed within the department of health for administrative purposes. The prevent suicide Hawaii task force shall examine, evaluate, and determine methods to improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach to best prevent suicides in Hawaii. The task force shall also monitor and implement the strategic plan formulated pursuant to House Concurrent Resolution No. 66, Senate Draft 1 (2016).

(b) The prevent suicide Hawaii task force shall, in addition to any interested members of the public, consist of the at least the following members:

(1) The current chair of the prevent suicide Hawaii task force, who shall continue to serve as chair of the task force until a successor is elected;

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

(3) One at-large member from each county, to be appointed by the governor;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(11) One member from the department of education to be appointed by the superintendent of education;

(12) One member from the department of public safety to be appointment by the director of public safety;

(13) One member from the department of human services to be appointed by the director of human services; and

(14) One member from the judiciary to be appointed by the chief justice.

(c) In addition to the members listed in subsection (b), the chair of the suicide prevention Hawaii task force shall invite the following members to participate:

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

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

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

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

(5) One member to be appointed by the director or president of Mental Health America Hawaii; and

(6) One member from each branch of the military.

(d) Notwithstanding section 26-34, any vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the manner provided for the original appointments, or be filled by the chair of the task force if there is no appointment mechanism for the vacancy or if the vacancy remains for more than six months; provided that all appointees shall have expertise or experience in fields or disciplines related to suicide prevention and education or awareness of suicide prevention.

(e) Upon the initial meeting of the task force, to occur no later than September 1, 2022, its members shall elect a chair and vice chair and any other necessary officers from among the appointed members. A majority of the task force shall constitute a quorum to do business.

(f) The task force shall meet not less than once per quarter; provided that the task force may hold additional public meetings as it deems necessary. The chair, at the request of the majority of members, may request special meetings.

(g) Members of the suicide prevention task force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses.

(h) Commencing with the regular session of 2023, the prevent suicide Hawaii task force shall submit an annual report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session. The annual report shall include updates on the implementation of the strategic plan, results obtained, and any other pertinent findings and recommendations of the task force, including proposed legislation."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2022-2023 to support the operations of the department of health's emergency medical services and injunction system branch (HTH 730) to prevent or reduce suicide in the State; provided that the sum appropriated shall be in addition to and shall not supplant any portion of the base budget of the emergency medical services and injunction system branch (HTH 730) and shall be included in the base budget for the emergency medical services and injunction system branch in future fiscal bienniums.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act;

SECTION 4. 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 5. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Suicide Prevention Task Force; Appropriation

Description:

Recognizes and formalizes the Prevent Suicide Hawaii Task Force to implement its strategic plan to reduce suicide in Hawaii by twenty-five per cent by 2025. Appropriates funds to the Department of Health's Emergency Medical Services and Injunction System Branch to support the branch operations to prevent or reduce suicide in the State.

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