SB 1442 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

Summary

Clarifies and updates the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the current mental health systems of care that address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Jun 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1442_SD1 → SB1442_SD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's mental health services for children and adolescents by modernizing the legal framework to reflect current care systems. It clarifies the Department of Health's responsibilities, expands service planning requirements, and adjusts timelines for reporting and plan development. The changes aim to improve coordination across agencies and ensure better mental health outcomes for youth.

Scope change

The bill maintains the same target population (children and adolescents) but updates the legal mechanisms and administrative requirements for delivering services.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the statewide mental health services plan requirements to include assessments of needs, resources, and gaps rather than just provider identification and service surveys.

Modified public hearing requirements for the mental health plan, requiring at least one hearing per county with three hearings in Honolulu for broader public exposure.

Repealed the biennial progress review requirement (Section 321-176) and replaced it with updated reporting requirements tied to the new five-year planning cycle.

TIMELINE

Changed the plan development schedule from every four years to every five years, with the first plan due no later than twenty days before the 2027 legislative session.

DEFINITION

Clarified definitions of 'Client' and 'Division' to align with current service delivery models and multi-agency coordination.

SB1442_HD2 → SB1442_SD1 · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's mental health laws for children and adolescents by clarifying the Department of Health's responsibilities and modernizing statutory language. The changes reflect current mental health care systems, remove outdated references to 'youth' in favor of specific age groups, and update procedural requirements for statewide planning and reporting. The bill also restructures how services are coordinated across agencies and establishes clearer definitions for key terms like 'Client' and 'Division'.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on children and adolescents (ages birth to 17), but clarifies that services apply to those receiving care from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division rather than a broader 'youth' category.

DEFINITION

Updated statutory definitions to clarify that 'Client' refers specifically to children or adolescents receiving services from the Division, and 'Division' refers to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division within the Department of Health.

REQUIREMENT

Revised the Department of Health's responsibilities to emphasize preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children, with services to be delivered as soon as reasonably possible.

Updated the statewide mental health services plan requirements to include assessments of needs and resources, identification of gaps between needs and available resources, and recommendations for meeting mental health needs.

Replaced the biennial review requirement with updated reporting obligations that include detailed progress analysis and recommendations for legal or administrative changes.

Added explicit requirement for the Department of Health to hold public hearings on the statewide mental health services plan in each county, with Honolulu having three hearings in strategic locations.

TIMELINE

Changed the statewide plan submission deadline from a fixed September 1 date to 'no later than twenty days before the convening of the regular session of 2027, and every five years thereafter.'

TECHNICAL

Removed repealed Section 321-176 regarding biennial reviews and consolidated related provisions into updated sections.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fevella, Ihara).

upper

Apr 15, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of action taken on 04-08-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 612).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1426) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT/HSH, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 337) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:25AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 418) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors