STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3636

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 810, 811, 812, 813, 814

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 810, 811, 812, 813, and 814, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Advisory Commission On Drug Abuse

 

G.M. No. 810

JODY JOHNSON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018;

 

G.M. No. 811

LORI KARAN,

for a term to expire 06-30-2017;

 

G.M. No. 812

CARL BERGQUIST,

for a term to expire 06-30-2017;

 

G.M. No. 813

JAMI KNOX,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018; and

 

G.M. No. 814

KENNETH TANO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2018,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Jody Johnson, Lori Karan, Carl Bergquist, Jami Knox, and Kenneth Tano to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

JODY JOHNSON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jody Johnson from the Department of Health and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Johnson is presently the Acting Director of the Substance Abuse Counseling Center at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base Hawaii.  Prior to assuming her current position, Ms. Johnson served as a Lead Counselor, Licensed Independent Practitioner, and Substance Abuse Counselor at the Substance Abuse Counseling Center.  Ms. Johnson is also a certified Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, IC & RC Internationally Certified Clinical Supervisor, Alcohol and Drug Counselor, IC & RC Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.  In her personal statement, Ms. Johnson indicated that her experiences working with a variety of people in different community settings, such as a school, residential treatment program, recovery community, and military base, have given her a broad perspective on issues related to substance abuse and allowed her to connect well with others.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Johnson's extensive work experience and qualifications, as well as her proven leadership, will be great assets to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

LORI KARAN

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Lori Karan from the Department of Health and The CHOW Project.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Karan is presently a Professor of Psychiatry at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco.  In the past, Dr. Karan served as the Medical Director for the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety and a Primary Care Physician for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.  Furthermore, she has received Fellow status from the American Society of Addiction Medicine and American College of Physicians and is an accomplished presenter, having led numerous national addiction conferences.  In her personal statement, Dr. Karan indicated that she believes consumers are best protected when they are educated and that providing adequate information for consumers to make informed decisions is the best way to combat misinformation about psychoactive drugs and drug addiction.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Karan's professional background, as well as her experience in addiction medicine, will be great assets to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

CARL BERGQUIST

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Carl Bergquist from the Department of Health, The CHOW Project, The Drug Policy Action Group, and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Bergquist is presently the Executive Director for the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and has previous work experience as a Policy Consultant and Policy Advocate for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.  Most recently, Mr. Bergquist's efforts have focused on issues related to drug overdose and substance abuse and improving the medical marijuana program in the State.  According to testimony, Mr. Bergquist has a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of drugs and drug policy and their related implications for the health and well-being of Hawaii's local communities.  In his personal statement, Mr. Bergquist indicated that he hopes to see the expansion of current treatment services, highlight the connections between the criminalization of drug users and adverse impacts on public health, and examine possible solutions to Hawaii's crystal methamphetamine epidemic.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Bergquist's experience in drug policy, as well as his dedication to public service, will be great assets to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

JAMI KNOX

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Jami Knox from the Department of Health and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Knox is presently the Owner of Aloha Pediatrics LLC, providing a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient care, as well as addiction medicine for patients of all ages.  Dr. Knox has previously been employed by the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation West Kauai Clinics, where she served as Chair of the Pediatric Department and Co-Chair of the Perinatal Committee, and owned and operated Haslett Community Pediatrics.  Dr. Knox is Board Certified in Pediatrics, and her special practice interests include asthma care, neonatal medicine, adolescent medicine, and addiction medicine.  In her personal statement, Dr. Knox indicated that because she deals with issues regarding substance abuse and addiction through her practice as a pediatrician, she is able to observe the effects of drug and alcohol addiction on families on a daily basis.  Your Committee finds that Dr. Knox's unique perspective as a pediatrician and addiction medicine provider, as well as her willingness to serve the public, will be great assets to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

KENNETH TANO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kenneth Tano from the Department of Health and four individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that prior to retirement, Mr. Tano served as a Lieutenant, Captain, and Major for the Narcotics/Vice Division of the Honolulu Police Department.  Presently, Mr. Tano is the Hawaii Law Enforcement Coordinator for the Western States Information Network, whose mission is to assist local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice partners to facilitate information sharing, support criminal investigations, and promote officer safety.  Mr. Tano has also served as the Honolulu Police Project Manager for the Statewide Narcotics Task Force and Honolulu Police Administrative Adviser for the Statewide Marijuana Eradication Task Force.  In his personal statement, Mr. Tano indicated that he is interested in addressing substance abuse through a multi-faceted approach with an understanding that law enforcement is only one component that needs to work alongside treatment, prevention, and education.  Your Committee finds that Mr. Tano's dedication to public service, as well as his proven leadership and continued involvement in issues related to substance abuse, will be great assets to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair