Bill > SB3199

This bill establishes the Mental Health Emerging Therapies Task Force within the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine to prepare the state for the integration of breakthrough therapies, which are drugs or treatments designated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as having the potential for significant improvement over existing treatments, such as MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD or psilocybin-assisted therapy for depression. The task force, composed of representatives from various university departments, state agencies, and community members with relevant expertise, will identify opportunities for clinical trials and research, develop educational partnerships, recommend training for professionals, evaluate best practices from other states, and create a roadmap for implementing these emerging therapies, including psychedelic and entactogenic compounds, pending federal approval. The task force is required to submit reports to the Legislature and will cease to exist on June 30, 2028, with the act taking effect on January 30, 2050, and also mandates that Hawaii's controlled substance laws align with federal changes regarding breakthrough therapies within thirty days of federal notification.