Hawaii Senate passes 4 behavioral health bills

The Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means unanimously passed four bills on behavioral health, State of Reform reported March 1. 

The first bill would appropriate funds to hire healthcare specialists for individuals with complex needs for Hawaii’s rural public schools. 

The second bill would establish a crisis intervention and diversion program within the Department of Health to divert those with mental health issues to appropriate healthcare services. It would allow a law enforcement officer alongside a crisis intervention officer to transport any individual believed to be a threat to themselves or others to a designated crisis center. 

The third bill, which would not go into effect until 2050, would require the health department to track and publicly report data related to crisis reports, emergency mental health transports and court-ordered treatments. The department would then have to respond to reports about people having severe mental illness who are in need of assistance and assess if the individual should be sent to assisted community treatment. 

The fourth bill would establish the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program, which would provide and coordinate mental health services for children from birth up to age 5. The program would focus on the delivery of mental health services and workforce training, as well as  promote better understanding of the needs of infants and young children, the importance of positive early relationships and the benefits of trauma-informed care. 

The bills will now move on to be voted on by the state's House of Representatives.

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