THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
160
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Mental Health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. (a) The department of health shall construct a mental health facility for inmates and detainees in custody of the department of corrections and rehabilitation; provided that:
(1) The new facility shall provide treatment to any inmate or detainee who:
(A) Exhibits signs of mental illness, including a diagnosis of a mental illness;
(B) Poses a danger of physical harm to self or others; or
(C) Requests treatment and meets admittance criteria as established by the department of health;
(2) Treatment at the mental health facility is medically appropriate; and
(3) Considering less intrusive alternatives, treatment at the mental health facility is essential to forestall any danger posed by the inmate or detainee.
(b) The department of health may enter into a public‑private partnership to plan, design, and construct the mental health facility.
(c) As part of the planning process, the department of health shall host a community partnering meeting to receive community input and comments regarding the proposed location, size, programming, and other matters pertaining to the mental health facility.
(d) The mental health facility shall be a secure, minimum- to medium-security community correctional facility designed to provide medical treatment to inmates and detainees with mental health needs.
SECTION 2. The director of finance is authorized to issue general obligation bonds in the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary is appropriated for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the planning, design, and construction of a mental health facility for inmates and detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the department of corrections and rehabilitation.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. The appropriation made for the capital improvement project authorized by this Act shall not lapse at the end of the fiscal biennium for which the appropriation is made; provided that all moneys from the appropriation unencumbered as of June 30, 2028, shall lapse as of that date.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
DOH; DCR; Inmates; Detainees; Mental Health Facility; Appropriation
Description:
Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.