STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 265

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 265, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Statewide Council on Independent Living

G.M. No. 265

JO ANN D. KOGA, for a term to expire 6-30-2013,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Jo Ann Koga from the Department of Human Services, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, and three individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

     Jo Ann D. Koga received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a cellular and molecular emphasis in 1980 from the University of Washington where she graduated Cum Laude.  Ms. Koga went on to complete graduate level coursework in business administration at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and obtained an Associate in Science specializing in Information Technology in 2004 from Kapiolani Community College.  Currently, Ms. Koga is working towards obtaining a Master's in Education for Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

     Ms. Koga currently works at the University of Hawaii ITS Distributed Learning and User Services where she is a data processing assistant, and also at the Pacific Basin Rehabilitation Research and Training Center where she provides emotional and social support to women with disabilities.

     Testimony in support of Ms. Koga indicates that she has many years of experience within the disability movement and her life experiences, dependability and perspective regarding independent living for people with disabilities will benefit the Statewide Independent Living Council.  Ms. Koga also has many good references and would be a good resource for the Council.

     Your Committee finds that, based on the testimony submitted on her behalf and her experience and personal knowledge in the disability field, Jo Ann Koga has the knowledge, experience and other competencies to be a member of the Statewide Council in Independent Living.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services 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 Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair