STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1745

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 151
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 151, submitting for study and
consideration the nomination of:

     BRUCE S. ANDERSON, Ph.D., gubernatorial nominee as Director
     of Health, for a term to expire December 2, 2002,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the resume and other background information
submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that the nominee
has a unique range of skills, abilities, and experiences that are
an asset to the position to which the nominee is being appointed.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the
Community Health Nursing Division of the Department of Health
(DOH), Commission on Water Resource Management of the Department
of Land and Natural Resources, United States Environmental
Protection Agency Region 9 Office, Hawaii Health Systems
Corporation, Waikiki Health Center, Puna Geothermal Venture,
American Academy of Pediatrics, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii,
Hawaii State Primary Care Association, Hawaii Neuropsychology
Community Research Bureau, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce,
Hawaii Public Health Association, NAMI Oahu, Hawaii Association
of Environmental and Recycling Companies, Hawaii Nurses'
Association, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, Hawaii Dietetic
Association, Kauai Paramedics Association, Kaiser Permanente,
Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference, Hawaii Island Geothermal
Alliance, Hawaii Hotel Association, Dames & Moore, Hawaii
Convention Center, Island Business, Hawaii Medical Association,

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1745
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Child & Family Service, Thompson Matheny Corporation, and twelve
individuals.  Testimony in opposition was submitted by Waimanalo
Citizens for a Healthy Future and one private individual.

     Your Committee notes the following specific qualifications
about the nominee:  Bruce S. Anderson, Ph.D, is currently serving
as Acting Director of the DOH.  The nominee served as the Deputy
Director for Environmental Health Administration from July 1987
to November 1998, and as the acting State Environmental
Epidemiologist from January 1981 to July 1987.  He received a
Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado College, a Master of Public
Health degree from Yale University, and a Doctor of Philosophy
degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Hawaii.

     Your Committee finds that against the backdrop of a
challenging budget situation, Dr. Anderson has shown creativity
and determination in creating state programs for environmental
protection, and has forged good partnerships with both government
agencies and public advocacy organizations.  As Deputy Director
for Environmental Health Administration, he worked diligently to
develop systematic processes to involve the community in setting
environmental goals and priorities so that limited state
resources could be focused on the most pressing problems of
society.  Under his leadership, the DOH administered a project to
improve water quality in the Ala Wai Canal Watershed as well as
undertook an initiative to institute a voluntary clean-up program
to provide the development community with a mechanism to clean up
properties contaminated with hazardous substances or pollutants.
In addition, Dr. Anderson has been an aggressive advocate for
Hawaii on the national level, seeking and receiving delegation of
Federal authority to operate major national programs for clean
air, clean water, and safe drinking water.

     Your Committee diligently questioned the nominee about his
qualifications for the position to which he is being nominated.
Your Committee also questioned the nominee about his professional
accomplishments and about his vision and goals for the DOH.  Your
Committee was impressed with the nominee's education, background,
and extensive experience in public health in Hawaii.  Your
Committee believes the nominee adequately responded to the
Committee's inquiries and sufficiently satisfied the Committee's
concerns.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this
report, your Committee, after full consideration of the
background, character, experience, and qualifications of the
nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position

 
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to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and
consent to the nomination.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Health and Human
                                   Services,



                                   ______________________________
                                   SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair

 
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