STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2010

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 532

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 532, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Deputy Director, Department of Taxation

G.M. No. 532

KRISTEN SAKAMOTO, for a term to expire 12-07-2026,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal statement and resume submitted by Ms. Kristen Sakamoto for service as the Deputy Director of the Department of Taxation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Sakamoto from the Office of the Governor; Department of Agriculture; Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Human Services; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Law Enforcement; Department of Public Safety; Department of Transportation; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Department of Budget and Fiscal Services City and County of Honolulu; Department of Finance of the County of Kauai; Department of Finance of the County of Maui; Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP; Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; Pacific Resource Partnership; Tax Section of the Hawaii State Bar Association; and numerous individuals.

Upon review of the testimony and the nominee's qualifications, your Committee finds that the nominee has served as Deputy Corporation Counsel in the Finance Section of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services of the City and County of Honolulu since August 2021. Your Committee notes that the nominee previously served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Tax and Charities Division of the Department of the Attorney General; an Administrative Rules Specialist in the Department of Taxation; an Associate Attorney at Bracamontes & Vlasak, P.C.; an Associate Attorney at Bradshaw & Associates, P.C.; a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Maxine M. Chesney; a Certified Law Clerk for the San Mateo County Counsel; and a Law Clerk for the Bay Area Legal Aid. Your Committee also notes that the nominee earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Your Committee believes that Kristen Sakamoto's expertise, experience, and commitment to public service make her highly qualified to serve as the Deputy Director of the Department of Taxation.

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