HI HB1941

Hawaii State Hospital is the only publicly funded state psychiatric hospital in Hawaii, providing adult inpatient psychiatric services and accredited by The Joint Commission as of December 2021.

Department of Health contracted a consultant in 2023 to evaluate hospital operations in response to increasing demand for secure psychiatric services, with recommendations submitted in early 2024.

Makes an emergency appropriation from the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Special Fund to the Department of Health for fiscal year 2023-2024 to implement quality improvement recommendations (specific dollar amount not filled in document).

Recommended improvements include new full-time equivalent positions, salary funding, telecommunications and networking upgrades, facility improvements, guard shack construction, and mental health continuum of care services with contracted security.

Takes effect upon approval as an emergency measure recommended by the governor under Hawaii State Constitution Article VII, Section 9.