STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2145

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                   

 

RE:     GOV. MSG. NOS. 523, 524, 675, 676

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 523, 524, 675, and 676, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Language Access Advisory Council

 

G.M. No. 523

CHARLOTTE HUANG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 524

CHARLOTTE HUANG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2023;

 

G.M. No. 675

VALENTINA YAROVAYA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2020; and

 

G.M. No. 676

LINDA NULAND-AMES,

for a term to expire 06-30-2021,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Charlotte Huang, Valentina Yarovaya, and Linda Nuland-Ames for service on the Language Access Advisory Council.

 

CHARLOTTE HUANG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment and reappointment of Charlotte Huang from the Office of Language Access and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Huang's background, knowledge, and commitment to public service qualify her to be nominated for appointment and reappointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Huang has over fifteen years of experience working with limited English proficient populations as an employee with Child and Family Service and is currently a bilingual case manager for the Service's Employment Program for Immigrants and Refugees.  In this capacity, Ms. Huang helps immigrant families and their children assimilate into the community and assists them with immigration issues, finding employment, and utilizing community services.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Huang has firsthand experience living in Hawaii as a limited English proficient person and is fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin.  Your Committee finds that Ms. Huang has served as an interim member of the Language Access Advisory Council since July 2018 and has a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of council members.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Huang be appointed and reappointed to the Language Access Advisory Council based on her knowledge, experience, and dedication to serving the immigrant community of Hawaii.

 

VALENTINA YAROVAYA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Valentina Yarovaya from the Office of Language Access and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Yarovaya's background and experience qualify her to be nominated for appointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Yarovaya is multilingual in Russian and American Sign Language and has twenty-five years of experience as a bilingual and special education teacher in Hawaii and New York.  Ms. Yarovaya recently retired from her position as a Special Education Teacher at Stevenson Middle School where she taught total communication classes for deaf and hard of hearing students as well as special education students.  While a teacher in New York, Ms. Yarovaya was also actively involved with educating and empowering parents who were immigrants, refugees, and low income residents.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Yarovaya's experience working with limited English proficient populations and children and adults with different special needs will be an asset to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Yarovaya be appointed to the Language Access Advisory Council based on her knowledge, experience, and dedication to public service.

 

LINDA NULAND-AMES

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Linda Nuland-Ames from the Office of Language Access and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Nuland-Ames' background, experience, and commitment to public service qualify her to be nominated for reappointment to the Language Access Advisory Council.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Nuland-Ames is a long-time resident of Kauai and is employed as the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator for the County of Kauai, where she trains County of Kauai employees on language access awareness.  Ms. Nuland-Ames' previous professional experience includes five years as a staff attorney with the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and consulting work with the County of Kauai on Americans With Disabilities Act issues.  Your Committee further finds that Ms. Nuland-Ames is dedicated to public service and has chaired the Kauai Community Children's Council and Mayor's Advisory Committee for Equal Access.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Nuland-Ames has served on the Language Access Advisory Council since 2016 and her experiences as a lawyer and mediator continue to enhance the effectiveness of the Council.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Nuland-Ames be reappointed to the Language Access Advisory Council based on her knowledge, experience, and commitment to serving her community.

 

     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