STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1656

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 505

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 505, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

 

Deputy Director Of The Department Of Taxation

 

G.M. No. 505

DAMIEN ELEFANTE,

for a term to expire 12-03-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal statement and resume submitted by the nominee and finds Damien Elefante to have the necessary qualifications to serve as the Deputy Director of Taxation.

 

     Your Committee received comments in support of the nomination of Mr. Elefante as Deputy Director of Taxation from David Y. Ige, Governor; Maria Zielinski, Director, Department of Taxation; Wesley Machida, Director of Finance, and Laurel Johnston, Deputy Director, Department of Budget and Finance; Roderick Becker, Comptroller, Department of Accounting and General Services; Todd Nacapuy, Chief Information Officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, Department of Accounting and General Services; Luis Salaveria, Director, and Mary Alice Evans, Deputy Director, Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Linda Chu Takayama, Director, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Pankaj Bhanot, Director, Department of Human Services; James Nishimoto, Director, Department of Human Resources Development; Suzanne D. Case, Chairperson, Board of Land and Natural Resources; Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser, Deputy to the Chairperson, Board of Agriculture; Ford Fuchigami, Director, Department of Transportation; Virginia Pressler, Director, Department of Health; Mihoko Ito, SanHi Government Strategies; and eight individuals.  Comments were received from one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that, consistent with the exemplary comments received on his behalf, Mr. Elefante possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to effectively serve as the Deputy Director of Taxation and administer the various improvements to programs and services designed to better serve the taxpayers of Hawaii.  He has served as the Deputy Attorney General assigned to the Department of Taxation for the past thirteen years and has a solid understanding of the State's tax laws, tax law enforcement, and the management of tax collections.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means 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 Ways and Means,

 

 

 

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair