SB 709 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Summary

Requires the Department of Health (DOH) to track and publicly report certain data relating to crisis reports, emergency mental health transports, and court-ordered treatments. Requires the DOH to respond to reports about persons having severe mental illness who are in need of assistance, assess whether those persons fulfill criteria for assisted community treatment, and coordinate the process for an assisted community treatment order if indicated. Establishes that a court's denial of a petition for involuntary commitment shall serve as notification to the DOH that the subject of the petition should be evaluated for assisted community treatment. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB709 → SB709_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes new requirements for the Hawaii Department of Health to track and publicly report data on mental health crises, emergency transports, and court-ordered treatments. It creates a new process for the department to respond to crisis reports, assess individuals for assisted community treatment, and coordinate care. The bill also mandates that courts notify the department when denying involuntary commitment petitions, triggering an assessment for assisted community treatment. Finally, it appropriates funds for software, website updates, and three new staff positions to support these initiatives.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the Department of Health to track and publicly report data on crisis reports, emergency transports, and court-ordered treatments, with reports updated monthly.

Establishes a new process for the Department of Health to respond to crisis reports, assess individuals for assisted community treatment criteria, and coordinate the process for assisted community treatment orders when indicated.

Mandates that courts notify the Department of Health within 24 hours when denying a petition for involuntary commitment, triggering an assessment for assisted community treatment.

FISCAL

Appropriates funds for procurement of software, website development for data reporting, and establishment of three new full-time equivalent positions (coordinator, data specialist, and epidemiologist).

Appropriates additional funds for statewide media, education, and training activities related to emergency examination, hospitalization, and assisted community treatment.

TIMELINE

Sets the effective date of the Act to December 31, 2050, which is an unusually long delay compared to typical legislative effective dates.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 656) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 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 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Keohokalole.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

9 primary · 1 co-sponsor