HI HB622

Establishes a Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Working Group within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to examine and improve education, awareness, support services, and outreach for suicide prevention, with focus on Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, farmers, youth, LGBTQIA+, veterans, and other CDC-identified high-risk populations.

Working group membership includes representatives from the Office of Wellness and Resilience (chair), federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Safety, University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, Judiciary, one at-large member from each county, legislature members, youth leadership organizations, and Native Hawaiian health organizations.

Working group shall invite additional participants including U.S. Army Reserve suicide prevention program manager, members from each branch of U.S. Armed Forces, suicide prevention organizations, and mental health advocacy organizations.

Requires working group to implement recommendations from the Prevent Suicide Hawaiʻi Task Force interim report and report findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2025 regular legislative session.

Members serve without compensation but receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses and travel; Act takes effect June 30, 2050.