STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1770

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 502

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 502, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Director of the Department of Taxation

G.M. No. 502

ISAAC CHOY, for a term to expire at noon on 12‑05‑2022,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Isaac Choy for service as Director of Taxation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Isaac Choy from the Governor; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Public Safety; Department of Defense; Department of Accounting and General Services; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Transportation; Department of Agriculture; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Human Services; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; an administrative appeals officer in the Department of Taxation; a member of the House of Representatives; the Hawaii State Energy Office; Hawaii Society of CPAs; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaii Association of Public Accountants; Roberts Hawaii; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee notes that Mr. Choy currently serves as the Interim Director of Taxation. Your Committee recognizes that Mr. Choy is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and for many years ran his own full-service public accounting firm. He also represented District 23 in the Hawaii State House of Representatives for ten years, serving as the chairperson or member of a wide range of committees. He also acted as Controller of Koolauloa Health Center and served in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Choy is also the Chair of the Tax Review Commission, a former President of the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants, and former a member of the University of Hawaii School of Accountancy Advisory Board. Your Committee believes that as the State's residents recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr. Choy's expertise and extensive knowledge of government and business will be of great assistance to the State.

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,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair