STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2920

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 405, 406, 407

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary and Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 405, 406, and 407, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Language Access Advisory Council

 

G.M. No. 405

EARNEST CHUNG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012;

 

G.M. No. 406

DOMINIC K. INOCELDA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012; and

 

G.M. No. 407

GERALD HISASHI OHTA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2012,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Earnest Chung from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Language Access, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Pacific Gateway Center, and United Filipino Council of Hawaii.

 

     The nominee represents the covered entity appointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Sister Earnest was initially appointed to the Council in 2007 for a term to expire in June, 2008.  The nominee is currently the Executive Director of Catholic Charities Immigration Services and Social Policy Director of Catholic Charities Hawaii.  She has also served as Executive Director of Catholic Charities Elderly Services.  Sister Earnest received a B.S. degree from Rogers College (New York) and a M.P.H. degree from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  She is currently active with the St. Francis Health Care System as Board Chair of Community Health Services.

 

     Your Committee notes from the testimony that as Executive Director of Catholic Charities Immigrant Services, Sister Earnest is aware of the much needed services for and issues faced by low-income families, isolated elderly immigrant refugees, and people and families who are homeless.  More importantly, Sister Earnest has hands on experience in working with the immigrant communities in Hawaii, which are the communities that often face language access issues when seeking government services.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Dominic K. Inocelda from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Language Access, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Pacific Gateway Center, and United Filipino Council of Hawaii.

 

     The nominee represents the advocacy organization appointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Mr. Inocelda was initially appointed to the Council in 2007 for a term to expire in June 2008.  Mr. Inocelda is currently a social worker with the Susannah Wesley Community Center, where he has served in various other capacities since 1982.  Mr. Inocelda received a B.A. degree and a Master's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  He is the President of the Inter-Agency Council on Immigrant Services.

 

     Your Committee notes from the testimony that Mr. Inocelda has worked with limited and non-English speakers, the elderly, public housing residents, and persons with serious mental illnesses.  He has been working with Hawaii's immigrant community for more than thirty years.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Gerald Hisashi Ohta from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Office of Language Access, Congress of Visayan Organizations, Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Pacific Gateway Center, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     The nominee represents the state government appointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  He was initially appointed to the Council in 2007 for a term to expire in June 2008.  Mr. Ohta is currently employed by the State Department of Health as Affirmative Action Officer, a position he has held since 1981. The nominee received a B.Ed. degree from the University of Hawaii, where he also received a Public Administration Certificate.  Mr. Ohta is currently with the Language Access Working Group, Inter-Agency Council on Immigration Services.

 

     Your Committee notes the nominee's personal statement that he works daily with nondiscrimination issues involving language access.  He has instructed departmental, state, and county personnel on issues relating to unlawful harassment concerning language access.  According to testimony of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Mr. Ohta has been a very strong proponent of language access and has been a productive member of the Office of Language Access.  He is knowledgeable of the issues faced by the limited English proficient population in Hawaii and recognizes the need to continue to work to improve and make accessible government programs and activities.  As the Affirmative Action Officer for the Department of Health, Mr. Ohta has first hand knowledge of the challenges faced by state agencies in complying with Hawaii's language access laws.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Labor 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 Judiciary and Labor,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair