SB 709 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Summary

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Requires the Department of Health to approve the content of such training. Clarifies the scope of treatment permitted under assisted community treatment orders. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of requests for a court order to provide treatment over a patient's objection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB709_SD1 → SB709_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision shifts the primary focus from data tracking and funding to operational procedures and inter-agency collaboration. It adds a requirement for the Department of Law Enforcement to create training standards for crisis intervention officers and clarifies the Department of the Attorney General's role in handling treatment requests over patient objections. The bill also expands the definition of 'assisted community treatment' to include a broader range of services like therapy and residential support.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory training standards for law enforcement officers and clarified the legal process for obtaining treatment orders when patients object, while reducing the emphasis on data reporting and funding allocations.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards for crisis intervention officers.

Modified the Department of Health's duties to include coordinating assisted community treatment orders and clarified that the department may contract with private providers to fulfill these duties.

Modified the data reporting requirements to focus on the department's response to crisis reports and coordination efforts rather than just tracking raw statistics on transports and petitions.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a specific requirement for the Department of the Attorney General to assist with preparing, filing, and presenting requests for court or administrative orders authorizing treatment over a patient's objection.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'assisted community treatment' to explicitly include case management, therapy, residential services, and substance abuse treatment, rather than just medication and monitoring.

FISCAL

Removed specific appropriations for software procurement, website development, and the establishment of new full-time equivalent positions for coordinators, data analysts, and epidemiologists.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 605).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Cochran.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH/HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1432-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Amato; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Amato; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH/HLT, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 139) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 656) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Keohokalole.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-25 9:00AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/JDC, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

9 primary · 1 co-sponsor