Bill Text: HI SB2506 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Relating To The Mental Health And Substance Abuse Special Fund.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-03-16 - This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Tuesday 03-17-20 8:30AM in conference room 329. [SB2506 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-SB2506-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2506 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
S.D. 2 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SPECIAL FUND.
BE IT
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that subacute residential stabilization services, otherwise known as crisis stabilization beds, will bridge the gap for individuals in crisis for whom acute inpatient hospitalization is unnecessary and lower level residential and community treatment modalities are insufficient. Additionally, transitional placement is needed in environments where individuals with severe and persistent mental illness are able to live semi‑independently but can return quickly to higher levels of care when the individual starts to decompensate. These two service components are vital parts of a comprehensive continuum of care for behavioral health but are currently under‑resourced.
The legislature further finds that individuals who will benefit from crisis stabilization beds enter and reenter the health care system through emergency departments, often under a designation for emergency examination pursuant to section 334‑59, Hawaii Revised Statutes, or more commonly known as "MH-1". Upon discharge but before long-term rehabilitation and treatment may continue, some patients will require several days or weeks to deescalate from the patient's crisis in a controlled environment. Similarly, if these patients are reintegrated into the community prematurely, the cycle of relapse and decompensation often continues. However, Hawaii's treatment resources do not currently include crisis stabilization beds or supported transition units.
The legislature also finds that the department of health proposes to invest in existing state facilities that have underutilized bed space to create an inventory of crisis stabilization beds and supported transition units. Additionally, due to focused efforts over the last several years to maximize billing and reimbursement, the mental health and substance abuse special fund can sustain both expanded program operations and new capital improvements related to crisis stabilization beds.
The purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Authorize the mental health and substance abuse special fund to be used for capital improvements; and
(2) Require the department of health to identify, among other things, capital improvement projects that should be made with moneys from the mental health and substance abuse special fund to improve the continuum of care for behavioral health and submit a report to the legislature.
SECTION 2. Section 334-15, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) There is established a special fund to be
known as the mental health and substance abuse special fund into which shall be
deposited all revenues and other moneys collected from certification programs
and treatment services rendered by the mental health and substance abuse
programs operated by the State.
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the department is
authorized to establish separate accounts within the special fund for
depositing moneys received from certification programs and from each mental
health and substance abuse program.
Moneys deposited into the respective accounts of each program shall be
used for the payment of the operating expenses of or capital improvements for
the respective program. As used in this
section, "capital improvements" means the acquisition of real property,
improvements to expand capacity and serviceability of existing public facilities,
and the development of new public facilities."
SECTION 3. (a) The department of health shall identify the following:
(1) Capital improvement projects that should be funded by moneys from the mental health and substance abuse special fund to improve the continuum of care for behavioral health;
(2) The amounts required for the identified capital improvement projects; and
(3) Plans investigating whether: private nonprofit organizations could operate state facilities that have underutilized bed space; state funding could be supplemented with proceeds from fundraising to remodel these facilities; and non-state funds could be used to support operations.
(b) The department of health 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 2021.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050; provided that on June 30, 2025, this Act shall be repealed and section 334-15(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall be reenacted in the form in which it read on the day prior to the effective date of this Act.
Report Title:
DOH; Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund; Capital Improvement Projects; Study
Description:
Authorizes the mental health and substance abuse special fund to be used for certain capital improvements. Requires the Department of Health to identify, among other things, capital improvement projects that should be made with moneys from the mental health and substance abuse special fund to improve the continuum of care for behavioral health and submit a report to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2025. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
