Bill > SB1400

This bill transfers the Office of Wellness and Resilience from the Governor's Office to the Department of Human Resources Development, effective June 29, 2025, and establishes a new Wellness and Resilience Advisory Board to guide the office's work. The board will consist of eleven members from various state agencies, educational institutions, and community sectors, including representatives from health, education, corrections, early learning, judiciary, and the University of Hawaii. The advisory board's primary responsibilities include creating a statewide framework for trauma-informed care, identifying best practices for supporting children and youth who have experienced trauma, conducting assessments of public and private agencies, identifying cultural practices that build wellness and resilience, and coordinating data collection and funding streams. The bill expands the office's functions to include providing training and technical assistance to state departments, seeking funding solutions, establishing a cross-agency procurement team, interacting with community stakeholders, and creating a social determinants of health electronic dashboard. Additionally, the legislation ensures that current employees of the office will be transferred without losing their existing benefits or requiring additional examinations, and all existing rules, contracts, and appropriations will remain in effect under the new departmental structure.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=1400&year=2026