SSCR3442

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3442

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 712, 713

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 712 and 713, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Health Planning Council, Honolulu Subarea

G.M. No. 712

ALICIA LAU,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and

G.M. No. 713

CRAIG NAKAMOTO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Alicia Lau and Craig Nakamoto to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Health Planning Council, Honolulu Subarea.

ALICIA LAU

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Alicia Lau from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; Arcadia Community Services; Catholic Charities Hawai‘i; Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses; Ohana Pacific Management Company, Inc.; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Ms. Lau is presently the Owner and Health Care Consultant for Damien Healthcare Consultants, LLC, and Health Care Liaison and Sister Liaison for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities. Ms. Lau's past work experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer for Kūlana Mālama and Chief Operating Officer for Ito Healthcare Group. Ms. Lau is active in the community, where she presently serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for the Damien and Marianne Foundation and volunteers for the National Park Service in Kalaupapa, Molokai. Ms. Lau indicated in her personal statement that she intends to continue to review health issues in the State and assist in the sharing of information with consumers and health care providers. Your Committee finds that Ms. Lau's past experiences in the health care industry, as well as her dedication to serving the public, will be great assets to the Health Planning Council, Honolulu Subarea.

CRAIG NAKAMOTO

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for reappointment of Craig Nakamoto from the State Health Planning and Development Agency and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that Mr. Nakamoto is presently the Health and Regulatory Counsel for the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Hawaii Region, and has previous work experience as the Director of Communications for the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Associate for Hisaka Yoshida & Cosgrove, and Corporate Counsel for The Queen's Health Systems. Mr. Nakamoto is active in the community, having served on the Health Planning Council, Honolulu Subarea, since 2012. Mr. Nakamoto indicated in his personal statement that he believes his legal knowledge about health care and his understanding about the operations of the health care industry will assist him on various issues that affect hospitals and clinics and hopes to learn more about the certificate of need process. Your Committee finds that Mr. Nakamoto's legal background in health care, as well as his willingness to serve, will continue to be great assets to the Health Planning Council, Honolulu Subarea.

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

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair