STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1394

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 741

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 741, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Hawai'i Labor Relations Board

G.M. No. 741

ROCK B. LEY, for a term to expire 6-30-2017  (Term amended to 6-30-2016 by GM780),

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Rock B. Ley to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawai‘i Labor Relations Board.

     Testimony was submitted in support of the nomination of Rock B. Ley by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; the Chair, Executive Officer, and two members of the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board; the Hawaii Government Employees Association; United Public Workers; the Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; and ten individuals.

     Mr. Ley is currently a hearing officer with the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, a position he has held since 2008.  From 1991 to 1996 and from 1997 to 2008, he was in private practice as an attorney with Char Hamilton Campbell and Thom.  In the interim in 1997, Mr. Ley served as the House Counsel at TIG Insurance Company, handling workers' compensation defense cases.  From 1988 to 1990, Mr. Ley served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Labor Division of the Department of the Attorney General.  While in these positions, Mr. Ley also taught courses in real estate and resort development as an Adjunct Faculty Instructor at Hawaii Pacific University and American and European history and real estate courses as a Lecturer at Kauai Community College.

     Testimony submitted in support of Mr. Ley's nomination praised Mr. Ley's extensive legal experience gained from working in the public sector for the Attorney General and the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, as well as the private sector representing clients in workers' compensation and product liability matters.  Testifiers familiar with Mr. Ley's work with the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board indicated that, in the course of holding that position, Mr. Ley has demonstrated an ability to facilitate resolution of legal disputes, draft sound legal opinions and decisions, and conduct contested case hearings fairly and efficiently.  Mr. Ley has a reputation of being calm under pressure, intelligent, and fair.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Ley's extensive labor experience, and in particular his expertise in workers' compensation, will be valuable to the Hawai‘i Labor Relations Board.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor 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 Judiciary and Labor,

____________________________

CLAYTON HEE, Chair