Bill Text: HI SB1494 | 2019 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 1494 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating To Health.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-07-09 - Act 263, 07/05/2019 (Gov. Msg. No. 1365). [SB1494 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2019-SB1494-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1494
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII		H.D. 1
		C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH.

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

SECTION 1. (a) There is established within the department of health a working group to evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems and identify steps that may be taken to promote effective integration to more effectively respond to and coordinate care for persons experiencing substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness.

(b) The working group shall consist of the following members:

(1) The director of health, or the director's designee, who shall serve as chair;

(2) One representative from the behavioral health services administration of the department of health;

(3) One representative of the department of public safety;

(4) One representative from the med-QUEST division of the department of human services;

(5) One representative of the judiciary;

(6) One representative from the insurance division of the department of commerce and consumer affairs;

(7) One or more representatives of the Hawaii Opioid Initiative executive steering committee;

(8) One representative from each entity operating a health plan in the State, who the director of health shall invite to participate on the working group;

(9) One or more members of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, who the director of health shall invite to participate on the working group;

(10) One representative of the Hawaii interagency council on homelessness;

(11) One clinical social worker licensed under chapter 467E, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(12) Others as recommended by the working group.

(1) Inventory of funding streams and their metrics;

(2) Currently existing barriers to treatment access;

(3) Policies and practices that perpetuate or substantially contribute to access barriers;

(4) Practices that would improve care coordination and increase access to care;

(5) Policies or legislative actions that are recommended to effectuate coordinated entry and coordinated systems of behavioral health care; and

(6) Defined roles and responsibilities recommended of state, county, and community entities.

(d) Members of the working group shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses necessary for the performance of their duties, including travel expenses. No member of the working group shall be subject to chapter 84, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because of the member's participation in the working group.

(e) Two or more members of the working group, but less than the number of members which would constitute a quorum for the working group, may discuss between themselves matters relating to official business of the working group to enable them to faithfully perform their duties to the working group and the organizations they represent, as long as no commitment to vote is made or sought. Such discussions shall be a permitted interaction under section 92-2.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

(f) The working group shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2020.

(g) The working group shall be dissolved on June 30, 2021.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2019.

Report Title:

Department of Health; Working Group; Behavioral Health Care

Description:

Establishes a working group within the department of health to evaluate current behavioral health care and related systems and identify steps to promote effective integration to respond to and coordinate care for persons experiencing substance abuse, mental health conditions, and homelessness. (CD1)

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