SB 1442 Summary

• Clarifies and updates the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division's responsibilities within the Department of Health to reflect current mental health systems of care for children and adolescents.

• Replaces terminology "youth" with "adolescents" throughout statute and renames the "Children's Mental Health Services Branch" to the "Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division."

• Updates the statewide mental health services plan requirements to be submitted every five years (instead of four years) no later than twenty days before the 2027 legislative session, with streamlined content focusing on needs assessment, resource assessment, gaps, service descriptions, and recommendations.

• Requires the Department of Health to hold public hearings on the mental health services plan in each county, with three hearings in Honolulu, before submission to the governor and legislature.

• Repeals the biennial progress review reporting requirement previously mandated under section 321-176 and takes effect upon approval.