STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1838

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 763, 764, 765

 

 

 

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. 763, 764, and 765, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Disability and Communication Access Board

 

G.M. No. 763

NIKKI KEPOO,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025;

 

G.M. No. 764

SUMMER KOZAI,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025; and

 

G.M. No. 765

MARIE KIMMEY,

for a term to expire 06-30-2025,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by Nikki Kepoo, Summer Kozai, and Marie Kimmey for service on the Disability and Communication Access Board.

 

NIKKI KEPOO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Nikki Kepoo from the Disability and Communication Access Board and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kepoo's experience as a parent of child who is deaf, commitment to public service, and dedication to language equality for children with special needs qualify her for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board.  Ms. Kepoo is currently the vice chairperson of the Disability and Communication Access Board and serves on its Executive Committee.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Kepoo was instrumental in providing guidance in updating title 11, chapter 218, Hawaii Administrative Rules, entitled "Communication Access Services for Persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind".  Ms. Kepoo has also been an advocate for the Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids initiative, a grassroots organization whose mission is to work towards kindergarten readiness for deaf and hard-of-hearing children by promoting access to both American Sign Language and English.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Kepoo's reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills the requirement that a representative be a parent of a person with disabilities.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Kepoo be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on her experience in advocating for children with special needs and her commitment to equity for persons with disabilities.

 

SUMMER KOZAI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Summer Kozai from the Disability and Communication Access Board and one individual.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kozai's experience as a person living with a mobility disability, commitment to public service, and dedication to the well-being and equal access for persons with disabilities qualify her for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board.  Ms. Kozai is an auditor for the federal government and a handler for her service dog, Trooper.  Ms. Kozai currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board and is the chairperson of its Standing Committee on Parking.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Kozai was instrumental in amending title 11, chapter 219, Hawaii Administrative Rules, entitled "Parking for Persons with Disabilities".  Ms. Kozai earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and finance from Pacific University and Master of Science degree in accounting and business administration from Northeastern University.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Kozai's reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills the requirement that a representative be a person living with a disability.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Kozai be appointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on her experience as a person living with mobility disability and her commitment to ensuring equal access and a high quality of life for persons living with disabilities.

 

MARIE KIMMEY

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the reappointment of Marie Kimmey from the Disability and Communication Access Board.

 

     Upon review of the testimony, your Committee finds that Ms. Kimmey's experience as an architect with knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines and commitment to public service qualify her for reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board.  Ms. Kimmey is the principal architect for Kimmey Unabia Architects, Ltd.  Ms. Kimmey has over fifty years of experience in the field of architecture.  Ms. Kimmey currently serves on the Disability and Communication Access Board as the chairperson of its Standing Committee on Facility Access and is a member of the Board's Executive Committee.  Your Committee notes that Ms. Kimmey has been involved in design projects for government entities that required knowledge of the Americans with Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines.  Ms. Kimmey earned her Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan.

 

     Your Committee further finds that Ms. Kimmey's reappointment to the Disability and Communication Access Board fulfills the requirement that a representative be knowledgeable in areas for which the board has rulemaking authority.  Your Committee therefore recommends that Ms. Kimmey be reappointed to the Disability and Communication Access Board based on her experience in architecture and her commitment to ensuring accessibility for persons with 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