STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1423

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 417

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education and Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 417, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Board of Directors of the Hawai'i Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HFD)

G.M. No. 417

BETTY LOU LARSON, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Betty Lou Larson to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

     Testimony in support of the nominee was submitted by three state agencies, one county agency, four private organizations, and one individual.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Betty Lou Larson currently serves as Housing Assistance Program Director at Catholic Charities Hawaii, where she is responsible for elderly services and supervises two transitional housing projects.  She has over twenty-seven years of experience in housing and homeless programs in Hawaii and is a strong advocate for those in need of affordable housing.  Ms. Larson is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and holds two Masters Degrees, including a Masters of Social Work from the University.  She is active in a number of community organizations, including Partners in Care, the Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society, the Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance, and Neighborhood Board No. 8 (McCully-Moiliili), where she is currently Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee.  Ms. Larson previously served on the Boards of the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education and 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 Education and Housing,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair