STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1864

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 603, 605, 758, 760

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 603, 605, 758, and 760, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

G.M. No. 603

HO'OPI'OOKALANI BALAZ,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028;

 

G.M. No. 605

JOSHUA GOETZ,

for a term to expire 06-30-2028;

 

G.M. No. 758

KAREN GLASSER,

for a term to expire 06-30-2026; and

 

G.M. No. 760

LEONA SA MCDERMOTT,

for a term to expire 06-30-2029,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Hoʻopiʻookalani Balaz, Joshua Goetz, Karen Glasser, and Leona Sa McDermott for service on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

HOʻOPIʻOOKALANI BALAZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Hoʻopiʻookalani Balaz from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Hawaii Self‑Advocacy Advisory Council.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Balaz's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him for reappointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as a member who is an individual with a developmental disability.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Balaz is a strong self-advocate who has been a member and officer of the Hawaii Self‑Advocacy Advisory Council since 2018, and has served as a project assistant manager for the Special Olympics Hawaii since 2023.  Your Committee further notes Mr. Balaz is an active community member, volunteering for and at various organizations and events, including the Alzheimer's Association Walk and Best Buddies Hawaii Friendship Jam, where he was awarded the honor of Champion of the Year in 2021 and 2022.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Balaz's experience has given him firsthand knowledge about the challenges many individuals with developmental disabilities face, which will enhance the effectiveness of the Council.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Balaz has been serving as a member of the Council since 2022 and has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of its members.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Hoʻopiʻookalani Balaz be reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

JOSHUA GOETZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Joshua Goetz from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Goetz's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him for appointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as a member who is an individual with a developmental disability.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Goetz is a strong self-advocate who is a member of the Hawaii Self‑Advocacy Advisory Council, where he provides leadership training and is a great role model to other self-advocates.  Your Committee further notes that Mr. Goetz has extensive customer service experience serving in various roles for numerous retail establishments and has consistently received excellent feedback from customers.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Goetz's experience has given him firsthand knowledge of the challenges many individuals with developmental disabilities face, which will enhance the effectiveness of the Council.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Goetz has previously served as a member of the Council during which he actively met with members of the State Senate and House of Representatives to convey his priorities and concerns for employment opportunities and accessible transportation for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee believes that Mr. Goetz has a thorough understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Council members.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Joshua Goetz be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to public service.

 

KAREN GLASSER

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Karen Glasser from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Glasser's experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her to be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as a member who is a representative of a private nonprofit group concerned with services for individuals with disabilities in the State.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Glasser is an accomplished leader with fifteen years of experience serving nonprofit and disability-focused organizations and has extensive expertise in program development, policy advocacy, and inclusive community engagement.  Ms. Glasser is currently a program manager for early intervention at the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii, where she ensures that the organization's programs comply with state, federal, and internal requirements and oversees all social media and programmatic communications.  Prior to her current position, Ms. Glasser was an education and community outreach program manager at the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii, where she oversaw post-early intervention programmatic operations statewide, including the planning and implementation of events, volunteer training, and awareness efforts, as well as the opening of new programs for children and adult participants and the creation of resource programming for families and caregivers.  Ms. Glasser's professional experience also includes working for over a decade at Best Buddies in Hawaii, Virginia, and Washington D.C., where she served as a State Director responsible for directing all programmatic operations and cultivating diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Glasser has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of Council members and her extensive experience working in nonprofit organizations will enhance the effectiveness of the Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Karen Glasser be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her knowledge, background, and dedication to public service.

 

LEONA SA MCDERMOTT

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Leona Sa McDermott from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. McDermott's background and dedication to serving the public qualify her to be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities as a member who is an immediate relative of an individual with a developmental disability.  Your Committee notes that Ms. McDermott, as a parent to a son with autism spectrum disorder, has experience navigating the special education system, accessing disability services, and observing systemic barriers that her son has confronted, which has given her firsthand knowledge of the challenges many other individuals with developmental disabilities and their families face.  Your Committee further notes that Ms. McDermott has been serving as a coach and volunteer for the Special Olympics Kauaʻi for twenty years, and has been a dedicated member of the Kauaʻi Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, where she has elevated the voices of individuals with disabilities by hosting legislative forums and actively engaging with local decision-makers to address concerns voiced by individuals with disabilities in her community.  Your Committee finds that Ms. McDermott has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of council members and her extensive experience as a mother of an individual with a developmental disability will enhance the effectiveness of the Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Leona Sa McDermott be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her knowledge, background, and dedication to public service.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services 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 and Human Services,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair