STAND. COM. REP. NO. 857

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 438

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 438, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

G.M. No. 438

WESLEY F. OTANI, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee, and finds Wesley F. Otani to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Wesley F. Otani was submitted by one state agency.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Mr. Otani earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  He then worked for Kama‘aina Farms and HGP Inc., both on Maui, and Brewer Environmental in Honolulu.  He is currently the Regional Sales Manager of Terminix International in Honolulu.

     Mr. Otani has served on the Advisory Committee on Pesticides under an interim appointment since February 2004, as a representative of the structural pest control industry.  According to testimony, Mr. Otani has considerable experience in pesticide sales and use issues and has been an active participant in the Advisory Committee's meetings by providing information on pesticide concerns of the commercial pest control industry.  Mr. Otani is an excellent candidate for the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, who would continue to contribute ideas on more effective methods of pest control and better stewardship of pesticides through education, research, and policy making.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian 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 Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair