STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1552

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 475

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2009

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 475, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Hawai‘i Paroling Authority

G.M. No. 475

ALBERT TUFONO, for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Albert Tufono to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Paroling Authority.

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Albert Tufono was submitted by three state agencies, two private organizations, and twenty private individuals.  Written testimony presented to your Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Albert Tufono has obtained over seventeen years of social service experience working with high-risk youths in various capacities, and with the Hawaii Paroling Authority, first as a member of the Authority and then as Chairman of the Authority.  During his years of service working with at risk youths in Seattle, Washington and in Hawaii, he was responsible for developing, coordinating, and implementing programs targeting teens involved in gangs, homeless youths, runaways, pregnant teen mothers, and youths in correctional facilities.  More recently, while working at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility, he implemented cognitive behavior modification programs for juvenile offenders.  This depth and breadth of experience has been invaluable in his current role on the Hawaii Paroling Authority Board.  Mr. Tufono's objective is to be fair, firm, and consistent, which is borne out in the great respect he has earned among his colleagues and the staff and attorneys who work with him and appear in front of the Board.  This mindset has also helped to significantly reduce the parole recidivism rate during his tenure.

     Your Committee finds that the reappointment of Albert Tufono to the Hawaii Paroling Authority Board will continue to have a positive impact on reducing the number of parolees who return to prison and on improving the parole process for all concerned.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military 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 Public Safety and Military Affairs,

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair