STAND. COM. REP. NO 2942

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 545

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 545, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Connector

G.M. No. 545

JO ANN TSARK, for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Jo Ann Tsark to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Connector.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Jo Ann Tsark from the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Connector and three individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Tsark's background, experience, and commitment to community service qualify her for appointment to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Connector.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Tsark has spent twenty-five years in public health, focusing on Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander health and wellness.  Ms. Tsark participated in the efforts to pass and implement the Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 and the reauthorization in 1992 and also participated in forming Papa Ola Lokahi and Na Puuwai, the Native Hawaiian Health Care System on Molokai.  Ms. Tsark is currently the Research Director for Papa Ola Lokahi and is also a founding member and current Project Director for Papa Ola Lokahi's Imi Hale – the Native Hawaiian Cancer Network program.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Tsark will bring a wealth of public health knowledge to the Board of Directors that will enable the Hawaii Health Connector to better serve the residents of Hawaii, especially Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other uninsured and under-served groups that can benefit under the full implementation of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Tsark be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Health Connector based on her extensive experience, dedication to her profession, and commitment to serving the community.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection 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 Commerce and Consumer Protection,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair