STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3282

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 669, 670

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 669 and 670, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

Commission On Fatherhood

G.M. No. 669	ALEXANDER HARRIS, for a term to expire 06-30-2019; and
G.M. No. 670	JAMES KAWIKA RILEY, for a term to expire 06-30-2019,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Alexander Harris and James Kawika Riley to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Commission on Fatherhood.

ALEXANDER HARRIS

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Alexander Harris from the Department of Human Services and seven individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Harris' background, experience, and proven leadership as a father and the Senior Program Officer for Education at the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation qualify him for consideration for appointment to the Commission on Fatherhood.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Harris has spent his career in education policy, including serving as Policy Director of the Good Beginnings Alliance; Program Director of the National Governors Association; Assistant Superintendent of Accountability of public schools in Washington, D.C.; Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the United States Education Delivery Institute; and Portfolio Manager of the Office of Strategic Reform within the Hawaii State Department of Education.  Mr. Harris is also the father of two boys and is deeply invested in improving the lives of children and families in Hawaii.

JAMES KAWIKA RILEY

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of James Kawika Riley from the Department of Human Services and ten individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Riley's background, experience, and proven leadership as a father and the Chief Advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs qualify him for consideration for appointment to the Commission on Fatherhood.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Riley has served as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief; Spokesperson and Public Affairs Manager for the United States Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Office of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs; and CEO, President of the Board, and Founder of the Pacific Islander Access Project.  Mr. Riley is also a father of two and has taken the initiative to research how fatherhood has changed in recent generations, including the role that today's fathers play in their children's lives, the impact on children who lack a father figure in their life, the availability of role models for today's fathers, and the role of fatherhood in society at large, which demonstrates his passion for making a positive impact on fatherhood in Hawaii.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services,

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair