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. 311, 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 David Alexander Pendleton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from La Sierra University in Riverside, California, a Master of Arts degree in Church History and Religion from Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law Center in Los Angeles, California. He currently serves as senior policy analyst for Governor Linda Lingle. Mr. Pendleton's prior work experience includes but is not limited to serving as a legislator in the Hawaii State House of Representatives, in-house counsel for the Seventh-day Adventist Church Headquarters in Hawaii, a pastor for the Hawaii Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Church, a teacher, a youth pastor, and an associate with private firms within the State.

Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by one U.S. Senator, one U.S. Congressman, six members of the House of Representatives, the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, one Honolulu Councilmember, the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, the ILWU Local 142, the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 368, AFL-CIO, the Hawaii Carpenters Union, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oahu Filipino Community Council, the Building Industry of Hawaii, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and one hundred and eleven individuals.

Your Committee diligently questioned the nominee regarding his views on the workers' compensation system, including its effectiveness. Although expressing a desire to see improvements made, the nominee demonstrated a positive outlook on the current system and expressed a commitment to ensuring that an injured worker's right to treatment and timely return to work and an employer's rights and financial interests are protected. Your Committee recognizes the widespread support from a diverse group of individuals and organizations received on behalf of the nominee and appreciate the nominee's willingness to serve and his expressed intent to reduce the Board's current backlog of cases.

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.