Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 310, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

begs leave to report as follows:

Upon review of background information submitted by the nominee, your Committee finds that ROLAND QUOK FONG THOM is a graduate of Punahou School who earned an Artium Baccalaureus degree in Economic from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in New York. He is the director of the law firm of Char, Hamilton, Campbell & Thom, where he has practiced for over the past twenty-five years. Mr. Thom previously practiced law and is a former partner in the law firm of Cades, Schutte, Fleming & Wright, served as a deputy corporation counsel for the City and County of Honolulu, and served as a Captain in the United States Army.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Building Industry of Hawaii, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Ayabe, Chong, Nishimoto, Sia & Nakamura, and fourteen individuals, including former Board Chairs Nadao Yoshinaga, E. John McConnell, and Frank Yap, Jr.

Your Committee diligently questioned the nominee regarding his opinion of the state of the workers' compensation system and his ideas for the system's reform. Your Committee finds the nominee to be a highly qualified individual with valuable experience and believes his enthusiasm and willingness to serve will make him an asset to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, 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.