STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1954

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 560

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Labor and Technology, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 560, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System

G.M. No. 560

DAVID LOUIE, for a term to expire 01-01-2030,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by David Louie for service on the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of David Louie from the Employees' Retirement System, Department of Budget and Finance, and nine individuals.

Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Louie's experience, knowledge, and proven leadership qualify him to be nominated for appointment to the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System as a citizen at large member. Mr. Louie is currently a partner at Kobayashi Sugita & Goda, where he has delivered legal counsel and trial representation to clients for ten years. Mr. Louie previously served the State as Attorney General from 2011 to 2014. Among his major accomplishments in that role was participating in a $25,000,000,000 national mortgage foreclosure settlement, which resulted in the establishment of new national mortgage servicing standards and allocation of $80,000,000 in benefits to Hawaii homeowners. Your Committee further notes that Mr. Louie serves his community through volunteerism, as demonstrated by his decade-long tenure as a board member of the American Judicature Society. Testifiers noted that Mr. Louie's legal acumen would be an asset to the Employees' Retirement System, which has long prioritized the addition of a member with professional legal skills to its Board. Your Committee therefore recommends that David Louie be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System based on his experience, knowledge, and commitment to public service.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Labor and Technology 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 Labor and Technology,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair