STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1905

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 672

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 672, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs

G.M. No. 672

LAWRENCE M. REIFURTH, for a term to expire 12-6-2010,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Upon reviewing the personal history provided by the nominee, Lawrence M. Reifurth, your Committee finds that Mr. Reifurth is currently the Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), a position he has held since January 2003.  As the Deputy Director, Mr. Reifurth assists the Director in overseeing the operation of the 375-employee department that is responsible for administrative hearings, business registration, consumer advocacy, consumer protection, professional and vocational licensing, regulated industry complaints, regulation of cable television, financial services, and the insurance and securities industries.  Mr. Reifurth is also responsible for overseeing the fiscal, budget, personnel, and administrative services function of the DCCA.  Mr. Reifurth's primary responsibility with the DCCA is coordinating and implementing the department's legislative efforts and creating the departmental legislative process manual.

     Prior to being named the Deputy Director of the DCCA, Mr. Reifurth was an attorney with the law firm of Oshima Chun Fong & Chung, specializing in commercial litigation.  During his time with Oshima Chun Fong & Chung, Mr. Reifurth also represented various public utilities, including telecommunication companies and water and wastewater companies. 

     Mr. Reifurth also served as the State Insurance Commissioner in 1994 and was tasked with regulating the insurance industry in the State and developing state policy on insurance issues. 

     Mr. Reifurth also worked at the Department of the Attorney General as the Supervising Deputy Attorney General of the Education Unit, as well as serving as a Deputy Attorney General in the Utility Regulation Unit. 

     Prior to moving to Hawaii, Mr. Reifurth was an associate attorney in California. 

     Mr. Reifurth is a graduate of Marquette University and received his Masters in Business Administration and his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University. 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Reifurth was submitted by the Public Utilities Commission; Hawaii Financial Services Association; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.; the Building Industry Association of Hawaii; and thirty-one individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Reifurth has played a positive role in the development of the DCCA while serving as the Deputy Director.  In addition, his experience working with the DCCA as a deputy attorney general, as the former Insurance Commissioner, and as a counsel to many public utilities while in private practice, will serve him well as the Director of the DCCA. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair