STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1833

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, 586

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 580, 581, 582, 583, 584, 585, and 586, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

 

G.M. No. 580

PHILIP ANA,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 581

KIRIKO TAKAHASHI,

for a term to expire 06-20-2022 (expiration date amended to 6-30-2022 by GM662);

 

G.M. No. 582

MELISSA GIBO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024;

 

G.M. No. 583

AMARA COON,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024;

 

G.M. No. 584

BATHEY FONG,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024;

 

G.M. No. 585

MICHELLE MURALT,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024; and

 

G.M. No. 586

DARWIN NAGAMINE,

for a term to expire 06-30-2024,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Philip Ana, Kiriko Takahashi, Melissa Gibo, Amara Coon, Bathey Fong, Michelle Muralt, and Darwin Nagamine for service on the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

 

     Section 333E-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provides that members of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities shall include members of organizations that administer funds provided under federal law relating to individuals with disabilities, and that at least sixty percent of the members be individuals with developmental disabilities, or the parents, guardians, or immediate relatives of individuals with developmental disabilities.

 

PHILIP ANA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Philip Ana from State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Executive Office on Aging, and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Ana has over thirty-five years of experience working for and with disabled and aging communities.  He is currently a long term disability specialist in the Executive Office on Aging, and prior to that, Mr. Ana was an independent living specialist for the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living, where he served as outreach director, interim executive, deputy director, and Oahu care coordinator from 1989 to 2012.  Mr. Ana earned his Bachelor's degree in human development from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  His appointment to the council fulfills the federal requirement for a representative from an organization that administers funds provided by the Older Americans Act of 1965.  Your Committee notes that Mr. Ana's experience will allow him to assist the Council in addressing the development of policies for home and community-based approaches that cut across the aging and disabled populations.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Ana be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on his knowledge, experience, and commitment to the aging and disabled communities.

 


KIRIKO TAKAHASHI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Kiriko Takahashi from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and sixteen individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Dr. Takahashi is the Interim Director of the Center on Disabilities Study at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and has worked in the field of disability studies for over twenty years.  She previously served as an associate specialist at the Center on Disabilities Studies, project associate professor at the University of Tokyo, and disability specialist at Northwestern University.  She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Master's degree in learning disabilities from Northwestern University, and Bachelor's degree in speech and sociology from Northwestern University.  Dr. Takahashi's appointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of the University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service.  Your Committee notes that Dr. Takahashi's expertise will keep the Council informed and updated on the best practices within the disability field at the state and federal levels.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Dr. Takahashi be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her experience, extensive knowledge in developmental research, and commitment to education.

 

MELISSA GIBO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Melissa Gibo from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Gibo has worked within the disability field since 2003 and is currently the Director of Organizational Effectiveness for Catholic Charities Hawaii.  Prior to that, she served as Catholic Charities' Program Director of Developmental Disabilities Waiver Services.  In this position, she supervised the provision of developmental disabilities Medicaid waiver services.  Ms. Gibo earned her Master's degree in social work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  Her appointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for a representative of a non-profit organization concerned with services to individuals with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Gibo be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her experience in the field of developmental disabilities, commitment to better the lives of people with developmental disabilities, and constant pursuit to bring best practices to the groups that work with this population.

 

AMARA COON

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Amanda Coon from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and two individuals.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Coon has an extensive background in community involvement and volunteerism.  For three years, she assisted a hair salon on Kauai with arranging inventory, organizing work areas, and maintaining the business space.  Ms. Coon is highly active in the community, participating in Special Olympics and being recognized as the Athlete of the Year as well as providing educational services to those unfamiliar with the event.  Ms. Coon's appointment to the State Council on Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for representatives of individuals with disabilities.  Your Committee also notes that Ms. Coon has attended multiple State Council on Developmental Disabilities meetings, and as a resident of Kauai, her perspective is indispensable to developing and implementing the Council's upcoming five-year state plan.  Testifiers describe Ms. Coon as cheerful, engaging, caring, helpful, and hard working.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Coon be appointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her active participation in the community and dedication to public service.

 

BATHEY FONG

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Bathey Fong from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Fong is currently a member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and an assistant at the University of Hawaii Department of Disability Studies.  She is also the President of the Hawaii Self Advocate Advisory Council, which teaches people with developmental disabilities to self-advocate and create change that will lead to their independence.  In this capacity, Ms. Fong trains others to become educators for the Feeling Safe, Being Safe program.  Ms. Fong's reappointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for representatives of individuals with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Fong's perspective as a self-advocate is indispensable to developing and implementing the Council's upcoming five-year state plan.  Testifiers describe Ms. Fong as hard working and a life-long learner.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Fong be reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her active advocacy in the community on behalf of those with developmental disabilities.

 

MICHELLE MURALT

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Michelle Muralt from State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Muralt is currently a member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.  She is also a member of the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Council where she has served as a trainer for the Feeling Safe Being Safe program and participated in the Oahu Community Emergency Preparedness Fair educating others on how to prepare a personal "Go Kit".  Ms. Muralt's appointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for representatives of individuals with disabilities.  Your Committee notes that her perspective as a self-advocate is indispensable to developing and implementing the Council's upcoming five-year state plan.  Testifiers describe Ms. Muralt as a loyal volunteer.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Muralt be reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on her active participation in the community on behalf of the developmental disability community.

 


DARWIN NAGAMINE

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Darwin Nagamine from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Mr. Nagamine is currently a member of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, a member of the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and a member of the East Hawaii Developmental Disabilities Committee.  He is an active participant in the East Hawaii Disability Legislative Forum and has been the emcee and panel moderator who provides an opportunity for East Hawaii legislators to answer community questions.  Mr. Nagamine has also served as co-chair of the Developmental Disabilities Council Transition and Employee committee.  Mr. Nagamine's reappointment to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities would fulfill the federal requirement for representatives of individuals with developmental disabilities.  Your Committee also finds that his perspective as a self-advocate as well as a legislative advocate is indispensable to developing and implementing the Council's upcoming five-year state plan.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Mr. Nagamine be reappointed to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities based on his active participation in the community, legislative advocacy, and commitment to those with developmental disabilities.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair