STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3716

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 574, 579

 

 

 

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. 574 and 579, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Mental Health

 

G.M. No. 574

CHAD KOYANAGI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020 (term amended to 6-30-2019 by GM620); and

 

G.M. No. 579

WANDA VORSINO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Chad Koyanagi and Wanda Vorsino to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the State Council on Mental Health.

 

CHAD KOYANAGI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Chad Koyanagi from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Koyanagi is presently a Psychiatrist for the Department of Human Services MedQUEST Division and Institute for Human Services.  In the past, he has served as a Psychiatrist for Castle Medical Center, Molokai General Hospital, Hawaii Pathways Project, and Kalihi-Palama Health Center; Assistant Professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; and Medical Director for The Queen's Hospital, Kekela Unit.  Dr. Koyanagi is active in the community, having served on the State Council on Mental Health since 2012 and Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances from 2001 to 2005.  In his personal statement, Dr. Koyanagi indicated that he hopes to identify programs related to serving those with mental health needs that are effective, as well as focus much of his efforts on providing better care to underserved communities.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Koyanagi's work in rural and urban areas throughout the State, as well as his experience in academic and hospital settings, will continue to be great assets to the State Council on Mental Health.

 

WANDA VORSINO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Wanda Vorsino from the Department of Health.

 

     Your Committee finds that Dr. Vorsino is presently the Program Director of the Family Peace Center with Parents and Children Together, overseeing all aspects of the Family Peace Center program, including program development and delivery, leadership, and supervision of supervisory and administrative staff.  In the past, Dr. Vorsino served as a Forensic Psychologist, Performance Manager, Program Monitoring Supervisor, and Program Monitor for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health.  Dr. Vorsino has also served on the State Council on Mental Health since 2013.  In her personal statement, Dr. Vorsino indicated that she believes she possesses the skills and knowledge to continue to actively participate in the strategic initiatives that the State Council on Mental Health has developed and is aware of the issues that are relevant to adult and child consumers of mental health services in Hawaii.  Your Committee further finds that Dr. Vorsino's passion for serving the community, as well as her experience in child and adolescent mental health issues, will continue to be great assets to the State Council on Mental Health.

 

     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