STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1500

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 351

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 351, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

State Highway Safety Council

G.M. No. 351

CAROL H. McNAMEE, for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

begs leave to report as follows:

          Your Committee received testimony in support of the nominee from the Department of Transportation (DOT), Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawai‘i, Injury Protection Advisory Committee, and three individuals.

     Carol H. McNamee was first appointed to the State Highway Safety Council on July 1, 2003.  She is a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and founder of the Hawai‘i Chapter of MADD in 1984.  She has served on the Hawai‘i Chapter of MADD's Board of Directors and in other volunteer capacities, heading various task forces and programs.

     Mrs. McNamee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Stanford University, and received volunteer education and training from Hawaii Pacific University in Strategic Planning for Non‑Profit Organizations and MADD's Victim Assistance Institute.

     Mrs. McNamee was a member of the Governor's Impaired Driving Task Force (1994-1998), and its co-coordinator (1997-1998).  She was co‑coordinator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration-sponsored assessment of Hawai‘i's Impaired Driving Program (1998), and coordinator of the DOT-sponsored Traffic Safety Forum (1999).

     Mrs. McNamee has been a tireless advocate for increased safety on Hawai‘i's streets and highways for almost twenty-five years.  She has also been an advocate for strengthening laws relating to increasing highway safety and deterring impaired driving.  She will be a valuable asset on the State Highway Safety Council with her experience as a highway safety advocate and as a legislative liaison.

     Your Committee notes from the nominee's written statement that she believes the State Highway Safety Council should be cognizant of the best practices in the field of highway safety and strive to promote well-researched, evidence-based programs to improve highway safety in the State.  Her goal is to reduce highway accidents, especially those that are alcohol- or drug‑related.  She expresses her concern over the increasing numbers of fatalities, especially alcohol-related deaths, on the roads.  She believes the State Highway Safety Council needs to study the reasons therefor, and work to bring about practical and effective changes.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and International Affairs 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.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and International Affairs,

____________________________

J. KALANI ENGLISH, Chair