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HB1913 • 2026

RELATING TO VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

RELATING TO VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

Budget Healthcare
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
SOUZA, AMATO, BELATTI, MIYAKE, OLDS
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on how many veterans will be helped or if similar positions will be created at other state veterans homes.

Veteran Mental Health Coordinator at Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home

This bill establishes a full-time mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veterans' Services to improve mental health services for veterans residing in the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home on Oahu.

What This Bill Does

  • Establishes a full-time mental health coordinator position at the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home on Oahu.
  • The coordinator will be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services without following typical hiring rules.
  • The coordinator's responsibilities include facilitating mental health screenings, coordinating care with other agencies, supporting staff in providing trauma-informed care practices, and serving as a primary point of contact for residents and their families regarding mental health services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans residing at the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home on Oahu
  • Staff working at the veterans home who will receive support from the coordinator

Terms To Know

Mental Health Coordinator
A person hired to help improve mental health services for veterans residing in a specific state veterans home.
Trauma-Informed Care
Care that recognizes and responds to the effects of trauma on an individual's life, physical and emotional safety, and overall well-being.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not require the veterans home to provide direct mental health treatment beyond its existing scope.
  • It is unclear how many veterans will be helped by this new position or if similar positions will be created at other state veterans homes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a full-time mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center to improve veteran mental health services in Hawaii.

  • Adds an on-site mental health coordinator position within the Office of Veterans' Services at Tripler Army Medical Center.
  • Specifies that the coordinator will be responsible for facilitating screenings, coordinating care with federal and state agencies, supporting continuity of care, and serving as a primary point of contact for veterans and their families.
  • Allocates funding from general revenues to support this new position.
  • The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) appears incorrect or is likely a placeholder and needs clarification.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-19 H

    Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

  2. 2026-02-19 H

    Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 551-26), recommending referral to FIN.

  3. 2026-02-18 H

    The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Olds.

  4. 2026-02-13 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 02-18-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. 2026-02-06 H

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HLT with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

  6. 2026-02-06 H

    Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 44-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HLT.

  7. 2026-02-04 H

    The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama.

  8. 2026-01-30 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  9. 2026-01-28 H

    Referred to PBS, HLT, FIN, referral sheet 3

  10. 2026-01-26 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  11. 2026-01-23 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO VETERAN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
Office of Veterans' Services; Mental Health Coordinator; Statewide Mental Health Services; Appropriation ($)
Establishes within the Office of Veterans' Services a mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center. Provides that the mental health coordinator is appointed by and reports directly to the Director of the Office of Veterans' Services. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1913

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1913

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Veteran Mental Health Services
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that veterans
residing at the Daniel K. Akaka state veterans home have a higher prevalence of
diagnoses for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and other military
service-related mental health conditions.
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Effective long-term care for these veterans requires comprehensive and coordinated
mental health support that is integrated into daily operations and aligned with
federal and state resources.

����
The
legislature further finds that establishing an on-site mental health
coordinator position at the Daniel K. Akaka state veterans home will improve
continuity of care, provide support for other staff, and ensure that veterans
receive timely access to appropriate services without duplicating existing
clinical systems.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish an on‑site mental health
coordinator position at the Daniel K. Akaka state veterans home.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�
There is established within
the office of veterans' services one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) mental
health coordinator position at the Daniel K. Akaka state veterans home on the
island of Oahu.
�
The mental health
coordinator shall be appointed by the director of the office of veterans'
services without regard to chapter 76, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and shall serve
at the pleasure of the director.

����
(b)
�

The mental health coordinator shall be responsible for coordinating
mental and behavioral health services for residents of the Daniel K. Akaka
state veterans home, including:

����
(1)
�
Facilitating mental health screenings and
referrals for residents upon admission;

����
(2)
�
Coordinating care with:

���������
(A)
�
The United States Department of Veterans
Affairs;

���������
(B)
�
State behavioral health programs; and

���������
(C)
�
Contracted providers;

����
(3)
�
Supporting continuity of mental health care
during transitions of care;

����
(4)
�
Assisting other veterans home staff in
developing trauma-informed care practices and crisis response protocols; and

����
(5)
�
Serving as the primary point of contact for
residents and their families for concerns related to mental health services.

����
(c)
�
The mental health coordinator may be a
licensed mental health professional, or a qualified health care administrator having
experience in behavioral health coordination.

����
(d)
�
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
require the
Daniel K. Akaka state
veterans home to provide direct mental health treatment beyond its existing
scope of services.

����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $
���������
�
or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2026-2027 for the establishment of a mental health coordinator
position at the
Daniel K. Akaka state
veterans home
.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the office of veterans' services for the
purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

OVS;
Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home; Mental Health; Coordinator; Services; New
Position; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
within the Office of Veterans' Services a mental health coordinator position at
the
Daniel K. Akaka State
Veterans Home.
�
Provides that the mental
health coordinator is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Director
of the Office of Veterans' Services.
�

Appropriates moneys.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.