STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2390

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 536

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 536, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Director of the Department of Budget and Finance

G.M. No. 536

LAUREL A. JOHNSTON, for a term to expire at noon on 12-03-2018,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee reviewed the personal statement and resume submitted by Laurel A. Johnston for service as the Director of Finance.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination from the Office of the Governor; the Department of Accounting and General Services; the Department of Agriculture; the Department of Budget and Finance; the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; the Department of Defense; the Department of Health; the Department of Human Resources Development; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; the Department of Land and Natural Resources; the Department of Public Safety; the Department of Taxation; the Department of Transportation; the Employees' Retirement System; the Hawaii Tourism Authority; a member of the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board; the Office of Enterprise Technology Services; the Office of the Public Defender; the Domestic Violence Action Center; SanHi Government Strategies; the United Public Workers; the Young Men's Christian Association of Honolulu, and eleven individuals.

     Upon review of the testimony and the nominee's qualifications, your Committee finds that the nominee has served as the Deputy Director of Finance, and began serving as the Acting Director of Finance at the end of 2017.  Your Committee notes that the nominee has had an extensive career with the State, spanning thirty years of accumulated experience as a public administrator, researcher, and writer in education, health, criminal justice, social justice, economic development, and public finance.  Your Committee also notes that the nominee earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from Florida State University.

     Your Committee finds that Laurel A. Johnston's extensive experience in public service and finance will make her an effective leader of the Department of Budget and Finance.

     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,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair