STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3582

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 2000

                                   RE:  GOV. MSG. NO. 221
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Environment, to which was
referred Governor's Message No. 221, submitting for study and
consideration the nomination of:

LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS APPEALS BOARD

     G.M. No. 221       RANDALL Y. IWASE, for a term to expire
                        June 30, 2010,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon review of the resume and statement submitted by the
nominee, your Committee finds that Randall Y. Iwase holds a Juris
Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Mr. Iwase was employed as a deputy attorney general and then a
supervising deputy attorney general at the Department of Attorney
General from 1974 to 1985.  He has served the public sector as a
Honolulu City Council member, Executive Director of the Aloha
Tower Development Corporation, and since 1990, as a Senator in
the State Legislature.  Currently, Mr. Iwase is also of counsel
to Dwyer, Imanaka, Schraff, Kudo, Meyer & Fujimoto.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was received from the
Department of Human Resources Development, Local Union 1186
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Electrical
Contractors Association of Hawaii, National Federation of
Independent Business, Plumbers and Fitters Local 675 United
Association, Building Industry Association of Hawaii, Hidano
Construction, Inc., Hawaii Hotel Association, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Hawaii Operating Engineers

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3582
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Industry Stabilization Fund, Small Business Economic Revival
Force, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, General Contractors
Association of Hawaii, Pacific Resource Partnership, Hawaii
Business Roundtable, and 26 individuals.

     The supporting testimony repeatedly espoused Mr. Iwase's
fairness, knowledge of the law, and analytical ability.
Testifiers attested that he listens to all sides of the issue, is
not biased toward management or labor, analyzes and interprets
laws and rules carefully and impartially, and is not afraid to
embrace difficult positions in furtherance of justice.  Other
testimony praised his many years of government service in diverse
capacities that have resulted in his expertise in administrative
law and ability to act decisively, fairly, and in the best
interest of the community at-large.  Oral testimony was received
by two individuals; one in favor and one opposed to the
nomination.  The opposing testimony focused on Mr. Iwase's lack
of medical background and lack of a strong worker's compensation
background.

     Your Committee members diligently questioned the nominee
regarding the current problems plaguing the appeals board process
and possible solutions to expedite the process.  Your Committee
further questioned Mr. Iwase on the statute governing the
qualifications of the appeals board members, his interpretation
of the statute, his qualifications, and the possibility of
retaining experts.  Based upon this discussion, your Committee
believes that the nominee adequately responded to the Committee's
inquiries.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Environment 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
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 Labor and
                                   Environment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   BOB NAKATA, Chair

 
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