STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 4004
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 669, 670, 671, 672
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2022
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 669, 670, 671, and 672, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:
Disability and
Communication Access Board
|
G.M. No. 669 |
ANTHONY AKAMINE, for a term to expire 06-30-2026; |
|
G.M. No. 670 |
ROSANNA DANIEL-KANETAKE, for a term to expire 06-30-2026; |
|
G.M. No. 671 |
VIOLET HORVATH, for a term to expire 06-30-2026; and |
|
G.M. No. 672 |
RONALD AWA, for a term to expire 06-30-2026, |
begs leave to report as follows:
ANTHONY AKAMINE
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Akamine's experience as a person living with blindness, commitment to public service, and dedication to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources, qualify him for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board. Mr. Akamine is currently employed as an Election Information Specialist with the State Office of Elections. He is responsible for providing guidance and conducting public education and awareness efforts to ensure that the voting process is accessible to people with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that section 348F-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that the board include at least nine persons with various types of disabilities. Mr. Akamine's service on Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills this requirement. Your Committee notes that Mr. Akamine currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board and therefore is already familiar with its work. Your Committee therefore recommends that Anthony Akamine be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on his experience as a person living with blindness and commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources.
ROSANNA DANIEL-KANETAKE
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Rosanna Daniel-Kanetake from the Disability and Communication Access Board.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Daniel-Kanetake's experience as a person with a mobility disability as a wheelchair user, commitment to public service, and dedication to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources, qualify her for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board. Ms. Daniel-Kanetake currently works for Child and Family Services, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families and fostering the healthy development of children. She has several decades of experience working in various social services settings, both for people with disabilities, as well as social services for the general population. Ms. Daniel-Kanetake also served as the Chairperson of the Disability and Communication Access Board's Legislative Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee. Your Committee further finds that section 348F-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, requires that the board include at least nine persons with various types of disabilities. Ms. Daniel-Kanetake's service on Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills this requirement. Your Committee notes that Ms. Daniel-Kanetake currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board and therefore is already familiar with its work. Your Committee therefore recommends that Rosanna Daniel-Kanetake be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on her experience as a person with a mobility disability as a wheelchair user and commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources.
VIOLET HORVATH
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Violet Horvath from the University of Hawai‘i System, Disability and Communication Access Board, and two individuals.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Horvath's experience in developing projects benefitting persons with disabilities, commitment to public service, and dedication to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to State resources, qualify her for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board. Since 2014, Dr. Horvath has been the Director of John A. Burns School of Medicine's Pacific Disabilities Center. The Pacific Disabilities Center is involved in projects on a wide variety of topics, including rehabilitation capacity-building, self-employment outcomes, farm workers with disabilities, rehabilitation technology, transitioning for youth with disabilities, emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities and special health needs, traumatic brain injury implementation projects with industry, and many more. The Pacific Disabilities Center leads projects that improve the lives of persons with disabilities by integrating culturally-based, community-engaged, and technologically innovative solutions throughout the Pacific. Under Dr. Horvarth's leadership, the Pacific Disabilities Center has been transformed into an entity that makes a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Your Committee further finds that Dr. Horvath's service on the Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills the requirement of section 348F-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that members include individuals knowledgeable in areas for which the Disability and Communication Access Board has rulemaking authority. Your Committee notes that Dr. Horvath currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board and therefore is already familiar with its work. Your Committee therefore recommends that Violet Horvath be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on her experience in developing projects benefitting persons with disabilities and commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources.
RONALD AWA
Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Ronald Awa from the Disability and Communication Access Board.
Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Awa's experience as a licensed architect, commitment to public service, and dedication to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to state resources, qualify him for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board. Mr. Awa is a licensed architect who is an expert in accessible design for persons with disabilities, specifically with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines. Mr. Awa also serves as the chairperson for several design review committees that examine proposed plans for compliance with the association's guidelines, including Na Pali Haweo Development, 1350 Ala Moana, and The Imperial Plaza. Your Committee further finds that Mr. Awa's service on the Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills the requirement of section 348F-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, that members include individuals knowledgeable in areas for which the Disability and Communication Access Board has rulemaking authority. Your Committee notes that Mr. Awa currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board and therefore is already familiar with its work. Your Committee therefore recommends that Ronald Awa be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on his experience as a licensed architect and commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have meaningful access to State resources.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on 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 Health,
|
|
|
____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair |
|
|
|
|