Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection

Calling the Joint Hearing of Health Human Services and Consumer and Commerce and Consumer Affairs one o' clock calendar. First up, SB 1509. Before we go on, this meeting is being streamed live on YouTube. In the unlikely event that we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, the Committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding visits on Wednesday, February 26th at 1pm in room 225. For those on Zoom, your audio will be muted, video disabled until shortly before its your turn to testify.

Each testifier will have one minute to testify. If there's a technical glitch during your time to testify, we may have to move on to the next person due to time constraints. I will be reading a list of individuals who submitted written testimony for each measure. We apologize if the closed captioning does not accurately transcribe the names.

If you are interested in reviewing the written testimony, please go to the Legislature's website. You will find a link on the status page for the measure. We appreciate your understanding and remind you that the Committee does have your testimony, that I have reviewed them, so I encourage you to use your time to either add additional comments or or you can stand on your written testimony. For those of you who've been to my hearings before, you know I am pretty strict with a one minute deadline.

So first up, so present with me is Co-Chair Senator Keohokalole and Vice Chair Senator Aquino. First up, SB 1509, relating to prescription drugs. First up is Insurance Division providing comments. Thank you very much. Next we have Dr. Lewin, State Health Planning and Development Agency, in support. Thank you very much.

Milia Leong, Hawaii Insurers Council, in opposition. Next we have Sam Miller, Infusion Access Foundation, in support. Next we have Eleni Valanos, Alliance for Transparency and Affordable Prescriptions, in support. Walgreens, Tiffany Yajima in support. Are you present? Please proceed.

Good afternoon, Chairs, Vice Chair, Members of the Committee. Tiffany Yajima on behalf of Walgreens. Walgreens is in support of this measure. I would just say Walgreens is an unaffiliated pharmacy, meaning that it doesn't own or operate a PBM. Unaffiliated pharmacies do face the same reimbursement challenges as independent pharmacies. We do strongly support this measure.

We'll stand on the rest of our testimony. And just note that the Hawaii Pharmacists Association in their testimony has offered amendments to establish a reimbursement rate floor in addition to the language that's in this bill, and we would support those amendments. Ask you to support this measure. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you very much. Next we have Annie Mooney of AHIP in opposition. Next we have Corrie Sanders, Hawaii Pharmacists Association, in support. Please proceed.

Hi, Chairs, Members of the Committee. I want to stand on my written testimony and also really take a minute to emphasize the importance of looking into pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, across the state. They are operating in a black hole on purpose. There's a laundry list of deceptive practices that PBMs will proceed forward with that ultimately affect the end user or the consumer.

Something that they're doing that is being looked at across the country is what's called spread pricing. So they act as the middleman between the drug manufacturer and the end consumer, being the pharmacy or the patient. And they will charge the pharmacy more than what they got the drug for from the manufacturer. Instead of reimbursing that cost to the patient, they keep it for themselves to the tune of millions of dollars. Something else that they do is called unclear reimbursement rates.

And this is where we're looking at really reestablishing that reimbursement rate floor to ensure that our independent community pharmacies are at least being reimbursed for the cost of the drug and the cost of the service. And I want to end by emphasizing this is really, really affecting our independent community pharmacies and making sure that they have a viable business line financially. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Rachel Wilkinson, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, in opposition. Rachel? Thank you very much. Agata Pelka, Patient Pocket Protector Coalition, in support. Sam Miller, National Infusion Center Association, in support. Tonia Sorrell-Neal, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, opposition. Tonia, are you present on Zoom?

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay, moving on. Kimberly Mikami Svetin, Molokai Drugs Inc, in support.

Aloha, Chairs and Members of the Committee on Health and Human Services and Consumer Protection. I stand by the submitted testimony, but we wanted to emphasize that I'm one of many independent pharmacies in Hawaii as well all over the mainland that are challenged by pharmacy benefit managers or what we call middlemen. We are not able to work like other businesses. So for example, I may fill a prescription and lose $150 for a one month supply for a patient.

We are not able to change the reimbursement of what we can charge the patient nor the insurance company because we are tied by contracts that we may not be able to change for a year or even longer. As a comparison, a grocery store selling one dozen eggs can instantly increase their price of goods from $9 a dozen to $11 a dozen when costs go up. Molokai Drugs, however, is not able to do so. Earlier, HPhA, or Hawaii Pharmacy Pharmacists...

Thank you very much. We read your, we have read your testimony.

My flight was delayed. That's why I'm here.

Thank you so much for being here. All the way from Molokai. And your, all of the flights from Molokai is always delayed. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Or cancelled. Next we have Brenda DuFresne in support. Sheryl Summers in support. Nancy Moser in support. Jada Rufo in support. Anne Leake in support. And Alanna Isobe in support. Chandra Kim, are you present on Zoom, Chandra? Okay, please proceed. You're in support.

Yes. Good afternoon. My name is Chandra Kim, and I'm a resident of Kailua, Hawaii. I support this measure, which would pass PBM negotiated rebates on prescription medications through to patients. PBMs have been an issue for a very long time, and this is a great start to improve accessibility and affordability.

My daughter lives with type 1 diabetes, and life is challenging for her. The last thing I want for her is to continue worrying about the cost of her insulin. Going to the pharmacy to pick up a life saving drug should not be stressful. It's common knowledge that there are rebates available yet not given to the patient.

No one should ever have to make a decision not to get their medication because of high cost, especially when we know rebates are available. Senate Bill 1509 would ensure that patients would pay the lowest negotiated price for that drug instead of the artificially inflated list price. My request is that you put patient needs over corporate profits. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Also present is Senator McKelvey. Okay. Next we have Katrina Fenner in support. Ronald Taniguchi, MBA, in support. Younghee Overly in support. Cory Lehano in support. Alyssa Pang in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on SB 1509? Okay, Members, any questions? I do. Molokai Drugs, since you came all the way here from Molokai, have you had a chance to look at the proposed SD 1 from...

From the HPhA?

Yeah. Hawaii Pharmacists Association. Are you in agreement with them?

I need to... I don't have a copy on my computer right now. I literally just drove here. But I can discuss some of this later once I have a copy in front of me. I don't have one right now.

But basically it looks like they want to take care of the spread pricing and patient steering issues.

I did use that. I used that as one of my examples in my testimony.

And more transparency regarding reimbursement. Okay. So you're in agreement with that?

I'm in agreement with the amendments that were added from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association.

Okay, thank you very much.

Thank you. Anything else?

Unless anybody else? We also have... We also have Senator Hashimoto present.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you. Anybody else wishing to testify in SB 1509? Seeing none. Members, any questions? Do you have quorum? Okay, we need to recess for quorum. Oh, no, we have quorum. Okay. Can we proceed with decision making?

Okay. For SB 1509, Chair's recommendation is to pass with amendments. We're gonna accept Hawaii Pharmacists Association's proposed amendments, and thank you for providing an SD 1. That way we didn't need to come up with the language.

Any tech amendments as necessary for consistency. And because the amendments are substantial, we're also going to put in a defective date, December 31, 2050, to continue on the discussion. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote. Pass with amendments.

[Roll Call] Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

Thank you. CPN. Same recommendations. Senator McKelvey, passing with amendments.

Yes. Okay. Been a while. Give me a second here. SB 1509 recommendations, Senate Draft 1. Chair Keohokalole votes aye. Vice Chair Fukunaga is excused. I vote an emphatic yes. Senator Richards is excused. [Roll Call] Okay, safety's off. You have a bill.

Okay. Thank you. And with that, we are adjourned for the Joint Committee.

Calling the 1:05 calendar for Health and Human Services. Same cautionary remarks as earlier. In the unlikely event that we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, Committee will reconvene on February 26th for those at 1pm at room 225.

For those on zoom, your audio will be muted and video disabled until shortly before your turn to testify. Because we have substantial GMs for today, each testifier will have one minute to testify. So first up, GM 519, Paul Tonnessen for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council. Paul, are you present?

Yes, I am.

Okay, please proceed.

Thank you. No, it was just an honor to be asked to sit on this council. And I just been working with the Maui Juvenile and family courts for 13 years with the judges, prosecutors, and just looking forward to serving on this board and having an impact in juvenile justice reforms.

And other than that, don't have much more to say.

Okay, thank you very much. And thank you for volunteering. Okay, next up we have Judith Clark, Hawaii Youth Services Network in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 519? Paul Tonnessen. And thank you very much for answering our questions. Mr. Tonnessen. Members, any questions? Seeing none, we're going to move on to the next GM, GM 637.

David Litman, Mental Health and Substance Abuse for Maui Service Area Board for term, to expire on June 30, 2028. First up we have David Littman. Are you present, David?

Yes, I am.

Okay, please proceed.

Thank you. Yeah. Again, just an honor to be nominated and for the opportunity to be of service here on Maui, increasing hopefully access to more local resources related to substance abuse. I've been attending the Board Meetings and we've been working towards trying to get reopened essentially a psychiatric treatment facility for adolescents here on the island.

Also looking forward to trying to just in general reduce stigma and increase access to mental health resources here on Maui for people and for youth and families in particular.

Okay, thank you very much for volunteering to serve. Okay, next up we have Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration and Support.

Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM637? Okay, thank you very much. We will- We'll make the decision at the end. Thank you. Members, any questions? Okay, moving on. GM 528, Carol Marks for the Health Planning Council, Windward Oahu Sub Area. First up, we have Carol Marx. Are you present?

Yes, I am. I just want to say thank you for the opportunity and honor to be asked to serve on this council. And I look forward to contributing towards health equity and making health more accessible to our community in the Wayward area.

Thank you. Thank you very much for volunteering to serve and thank you for answering our questions. Next, we have Jack Lewin, State Health Planning and Developmental Agency in support.

Hi, Mr. Chair and Vice Chair. *inaudible* she serves as staff for our councils.

So we're delighted to be here. Carol Marx is going to be an excellent Member. She's a leader of the business community. She was sales manager for banking divisions. She's been- She's represented the credit unions in the state, but she's also been interested in healthcare.

She's done some work in training nurse aids and we really think she'll be a super valuable consumer member of the health team. So we're very honored to have her be nominated.

Thank you very much. Anybody else wishing testify on GM528, Carol Marx? Okay Members, any questions? Okay, moving on. GM574 Jacqueline Esser, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oahu Service Area Board term takes by June 30, 2028. First up, we have Jacqueline Esser. Are you present?

I am.

Good afternoon. Chair and Vice Chair.

It's an honor to be able to serve again, hopefully. I honored to have the nomination in mental health and substance abuse that I care deeply about impacted my own family and then in the life of my clients and my work as a public defender. So I appreciate the opportunity to continue to be on the board and focus on access to care.

Okay, thank you very much. Okay, next up, we have Hawaii State Department of Health in support.

Yes, we stand on our support testimony and they are very happy that she applied.

Thank you very much. Okay, Grant Gifner in support. Randall Hack in support. Melinda Yamaga in support. Josh Frost in support. Jun Shin in support. Anybody else wishing testify in GM574? Members, any questions? Okay, thank you very much for applying and answering our questions. Thank you very much.

Okay, next up we have GM521 Commission on Fatherhood. Neil Chauhan or terms expired June 30, 2028. Please proceed. Why don't you come on up? If you're going to say more than stand on your testimony, you need to stand up.

Oh, I will stand by my testimony, but I'm looking forward to saying serving on this Commission.

And please identify yourself.

Neil Chauhan. Okay. Looking forward to being able to serve on this Commission as a father, myself and my background in healthcare as a physician. I'm hoping I can help.

Yeah, thank you very much. And we have Jeff Esmond. I see him here in support.

Senator and Members of the Committee. I just want to say that

You need to identify yourself.

My name is Jeff Esmond. I'm currently the chair of the Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood. And a number of candidates come up for Commissioner. And I wanted to express my excitement for having Neil becoming a Commissioner and joining us.

To me, he's someone that sort of comes out of nowhere and will make a difference. And I'm looking forward to that difference.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Anybody else Wishing testify in GM521 Members, any questions? Okay, thank you also for volunteering and thank you for answering our questions. Thank you. Okay, next up, GM527, Creighton Liu, health Planning Council, Honolulu sub area. Turn takes five. June 30, 2028. Creighton Liu, are you present? Okay. Would you like to address us?

Okay, why don't you come on up. Identify yourself.

Chair. Vice Chair. I'm just pleased to be Back on Shipta, I've been involved for a while in the past. I've come back and I think the organization plays an important role in health care in Hawaii. You need to identify yourself since you're up here. I'm Creighton Liu. Okay, thank you.

And I just think volunteerism is really important to participate in, and I'm just happy to be involved and hopefully help move their agenda and objectives forward.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Jack Lewins in Shipta in support.

Jack Lewins, Administrator Ship down here with Terry Dispers who manages the these council supports that provide amazing insights to us in terms of healthcare status around the state. We're delighted to have Craig Luba this. He served with us before and did a stellar job then.

But he's really an entrepreneur, a businessman who understands the business aspects of the community. Very helpful to the council. So we're delighted to have him back. Thank you very much.

Thank you. And next up, we have Marilyn Matsunaga in support.

Stand on my testimony and say how wonderful it is to see Creighton again. He was on the Plant Development Committee back when we were able to update the health services and facilities plan in 18 months. He's brilliant in health planning and community research and it's wonderful to see him records with them.

Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM527? Members, any questions? And thank you also for volunteering and answering our questions. Next up, Tulpe Day, Language Access Advisory Council, Commission to expire June 30, 2028. Tulpe Day, are you present? Okay. Craig Severns in support. Tulpe, are you? Oh, please proceed, identify yourself.

Good afternoon, Chairs and Member of the Committee. My name is Tulpe Day. Thank you again for taking the time to interview me. I am very honored to be nominated again to serve on the Language Access Advisory Council. I am from Kosrae. English is my second language. English is not my mother's language.

She is 84 years old and she lives with me. I am my mother's language access. I do understand the needs and issue that limited English proficiency populations have, and I hope me being on the board can be the voice that is needed to improve language access to our LEP population. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Next we have Craig Sevens in support. Masao Ueda, Micronesians United Big island in support. Rose Bautista in support. Liza Gill, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights in support. Liza, are you present on Zoom?

Not present on Zoom chair.

Anybody else wishing testify on GM 655? Okay, Members, any questions? Yeah. Thank you very much for volunteering and for answering our questions. Next up, we have GM 578, Marilyn Seely. Marilyn Seely, are you present? This is for PABEA, Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs. Marilyn, please proceed. You have one minute.

Okay. I've been on this issue since-

Marilyn. Could you please identify yourself?

Sorry. I'm Marilyn Seely. Thank you very much for having this. Holding this. I am currently a Member of the Policy Advisory Board. I've been working with the Executive Office on Aging since I was hired in 1986.

And 20 years as a staff member and 20 years as a volunteer under every Governor since George Ariyoshi. An issue which I thought I'd have it solved by the time I got old, but as a matter of fact, the issues are getting more complex.

And so I think I'm going to have to keep doing this until the day I die. I'm very eager just to keep supporting elders in Hawaii and around the country who very much need everybody's help. It's not getting better for them in many cases. So we all need to work together for that.

Okay, thank you very much. Next. Caroline Cadirao. I see that you're present. In support. Department of Health, Executive Office and Aging.

Good afternoon, Chair Vice Chair. Thank you so much. Thanks, Marilyn, for being here today. We're in strong support of Marilyn Seely's nomination. We're so grateful for her to continue to volunteer. I continue to want to work with her on these 80s gene issues and I'll probably be doing this all also till the day I die.

So we're just very happy and grateful for Marilyn's, her resolve and her leadership towards the issues for aging. And we look forward to working with her. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Next, we have Katrina Fenner in support. Colette Brown in support. Raelyn Teno in support. Gary Simon in support. Okay, you stand your written testimony. Beverly Goppoly in support. Marilyn Matsunaga in support. Okay, thank you. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 578? Please proceed.

Deputy Chair, Vice Chair. Jack Lewin, Administrator, SHPDA. I worked with Marilyn.

Come on up.

Back in the day. And she is a fantastic asset for us. She helped build-

Identify yourself since you're standing.

Dr. Jack Lewin, Administrator of SHPDA. But yes, she. She's been with us the whole time and we'll need her for the rest of the duration because she's done amazing things in this area including building a plan for long term care, insurance and financing which never quite made it through the Legislature, but it was quite a thing.

So it's really wonderful to have Marilyn continuing to serve. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Okay, anybody else wishing testifying on GM 578? Members, any questions? Okay, thank you also, Marilyn, for volunteering, continuing to volunteer, and answering our questions. GM 636. Next up, which is Barbara Yamashita for, excuse me, Health Planning and for West Oahu Sub area. Would you like to address us?

Just want to say thank you for the honor of being able to serve, and I look forward to it.

Thank you very much, Barbara. Okay, any—next up, we have Jack Lewin, State Health Planning and Development Agency, in support.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair. Thank you. Jack Lewin here with...yes, we, we are really grateful and honored to have Barbara Yamashita with us. She's been a Deputy Director of Human Services in the state.

She's Deputy Director for the City Council of Honolulu.

She served as Administrator of the Department of Health when I was Director. She's an amazing person.

Okay, thank you. Unless you stand on your testimony, you need to address. That way, everyone else on Zoom can hear you. Okay.

Aloha. Thank you, Senators. Jack Lewin, Administrator of....I'll be very brief to say that we're very grateful to have Barbara Yamashita back in service with us. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much, Dr. Lewin. Okay, anybody else wouldn't testify on GM636? Members, any questions? Also, thank you for volunteering and continue to volunteer and answering our questions. Thank you. GM543. Next up, Cecilia Wang, Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Term expired June 30, 2028. Cecilia Wang, are you present?

Dr. Wang is currently with the medical mission in the Philippines and performing scheduled services. Today she sends her respectful regrets that she was not able to join us.

Okay, thank you very much. Marilyn Matsunaga in support.

Yeah, she is amazing.

So you're going to stand on your testimony.

Thank you very much. Next, Department of Health in support. Department of Health for Dr. Wang.

Hi, Chair, Vice Chair. My name is Andrew Yonemura. I represent the Department of Health and we are in support and stand by our testimony. And Doctor, as Marilyn Monaga stated, Dr. Wang is on a medical mission and I will not be able to attend the hearing. We thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Okay, thank you very much. Members, any questions for Doctor? Well, Dr. Wang's not present for the people testifying on her behalf. Okay, moving on. GM542, Thinh Nguyen, emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Term to expire by June 30, 2028. Dr. Nguyen, are you present?

Yes, I'm here. Thank you. I'm ready to add, I'm honored to be nominated for that.

Thank you very much. Next we have Department of Health in support. Please proceed.

We earn a support and stand by your testimony. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Okay. Marilyn Matsunaga in support. Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else testifying for GM542? Seeing none. Dr. Nguyen, thank you also for volunteering and for answering our questions. Okay, moving on. GM538. I see Gary Simon for PABAE.

Thank you, Chair and Vice Chair.

Would you like to address us?

No, just briefly. Thank you for considering my nomination and opportunity to serve again.

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, next. Caroline Cadirao, Department of Health, Executive Office of Aging in Support.

Yes, Caroline Cadirao, Executive Office on Aging. And like Marilyn, Gary served many terms with PABEA. He comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience and we just are happy to have him reapplying and to be on our board again. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, Kelly Lopez, ARP Hawaii in support. Raelyn Teno in support. Beverly Gockley in support. Anybody else wishing testifying on GM538? Members, any questions? Seeing none. Also, thank you for continuing to volunteer and for answering our questions. Moving on. GM635, Forest Wells, State Council on Mental Health, June 30, 2028 for term to expire June 30, 2028.

Forrest Wells, are you present? Good, great. Come on up.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, and Committee. My name is Forrest Wells, and I plan to be on the board of for the Hawaii State Council of Mental Health. I feel that my experience in the field can can really help direct and utilize appropriate resources to better meet the needs of the people.

Okay, thank you very much. Okay, next we have Dawn Seto in support. Hawaii Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration in support. Thank you very much. Okay, anybody else wishing testifying on GM 635? Thank you very much. Anybody else wishing testify on GM 635? Members, any questions? Okay, seeing none. Moving on. Also, thank you for volunteering and answering our questions. You know, when I say thank you for doing these things, we really mean it.

I know it takes a lot of time to volunteer and I also know that sometimes it also takes a lot of time to answer our questions. And so we really do appreciate it. Okay, thank you. So next, GM 520, Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council. Malia Malufu- Malufa, return takes fire June 30, 2028. Malia, are you present? Okay. Nope.

Nope. Anybody else wishing testifying on GM 520? Okay, moving on. Next, GM 634, Sara Medeiros for PABEA. Sarah Medeiros, are you present? Okay, next, we have Caroline Cadirao, in support, for the Executive Office of Aging.

Caroline Cadirao, also in support of this measure. Oh, there's—no, Sara's there.

Okay, Sara, would you like to come on up? I mean, please come up.

Okay, sure. So, I'm calling from Kona, and I am delighted to be.

Please identify yourself.

Yes. I'm Sara Lenzer Medeiros and this is my first year on PABEA. I'm hoping to continue volunteering for them. They're wonderful people and I'm endlessly impressed with the amount of knowledge and their background. I am not in—I'm not a social worker.

I'm not a doctor. I'm not in health care. I've been a public-school teacher for almost 30 years and retired here in Kona. I know a lot of people from all different walks of life in Kona.

We have a very varied population and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of something like this. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Okay, so Carolyn Cadirao, please proceed.

Okay, thank you. Yes, in support. And it's so nice to have new members come on, have new blood, so that they can learn from some of our older members and then, that cross-pollination is really good. And as you saw from my testimony, Sara's had experience working with intergenerational when she was a teacher.

And she recently brought a very important dairy issue to her heart of the homeless women in the Kona District and we're going to, as a Board, advance that and see what we can do, whether it's to raise awareness or something. But we're going to continue those discussions as a Board, and we look forward to having Sara on.

And we're so happy that she applied. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next, we have Katrina Fenner in opposition. And we have Gary Simon in support.

We stand on our written testimony.

And Beverly Gottlie in support. Anybody else wishing testify on GM 634? Members, any questions? Okay, next up, we have GM 628. Tira Kamaka, State Rehab Council. Term expired June 30, 2027. Only two years. Tira, are you present?

Okay, next we have Ryan Yamane, Department of Human Services, in support. Department of Human Services, are you present on Zoom?

They're present, Chair.

Okay, please proceed.

Good afternoon, Members of the Committee, Vice Chair, and Chair. My name is Rusnell Pascual-Kestner, DVR assistant administrator. On behalf of Director Yamane, we will stand our written testimony in strong support of Ms. Kamaka for the State Rehabilitation Council. I'm here to answer any questions, if you have any. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Next, we have, excuse me. Michele Ku, Arc of Kona, in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 628? Members, any questions? Okay, thank you very much. Okay, we're going to move on then. Next is GM 632. Jon Fujii, Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances. First up, Jon Fujii, are you present?

I am.

Okay, please proceed.

Hi, Jon Fujii. I work for the Med Quest Division, and I'm currently serving on HACDACS and look forward to another term with working for Medicaid. We have a perspective on substance abuse that where a lot of our members continue to struggle with substance abuse and impacts their overall care and health and wellness.

So, yeah, glad to continue to work through and support HACDACS. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Jon Fujii. Next, we have John Valera, Hawaii Department of Health, in support. Are you present?

Well, hello, Chair. Good afternoon, Chair and Vice Chair. John Valera of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. We're standing on our testimony in strong support. We'd love to have Jon Fujii back for another term. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much. Next, we have Behavior—Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration—in support. Stand on your testimony? Okay, thank you. Okay, Director Yamane, Department of Human Services, in support. Department of Human Services, are you present on Zoom?

They're present, Chair.

Not, not present. Rachel Wilkinson, Ohana Health Plan, in support.

We stand on our written testimony in strong support.

Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 632, Members? Oh, go ahead.

Jon Fujii...I think he's an excellent member for this advisory council.

Okay, thank you very much. Anybody else wishing testifying GM 632? Okay, Members, any questions? Okay, also from me—from the Committee—thank you very much, Jon Fujii, for applying and for answering our questions. Next up, GM 69, Dane Green, Disability and Community Actions and Communications Access Board. Term to expire June 30, 2028.

Dane Green, are you present for DCAB?

Yes, I'm present.

Okay, please proceed.

Good afternoon, Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Members of the Committee.

Excuse me, sorry, Wait a second. Please proceed. I apologize for that should have silenced us.

I'm Dane Green, I reside on Kauai. I'm a long term resident of Kauai. It's an honor to be here. It's an honor to be honored. Nominated a board Member for the Disability and Communication Access Board. I have a long term disability myself.

I've been using a manual wheelchair since I've Been probably in my mid early twenties and so I understand the importance of facility access, public access and design. So when I got the opportunity to be on the board, it was definitely an honor and a pleasure.

I I think I can add, you know, experience and my positive energy and my time to help, you know, advance the agenda of the board. I'm glad to be here. Thank you for welcoming me.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Kirby Shaw for decab.

Thank you. Chair, Vice Chair, Committee Members, decab stands and strong before the D.

Thank you very much. Kirby Shaw. Okay. And Bain Green again providing comments. Anybody else Wishing testify on GM69 Members? Any questions? Are you ready for decision making? Okay. So thank you very much. So for GM519 Paul Tonneson chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns?

Aye.

Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Aye.

Aye.

Senator Keohokalole.

GM of 519 recommendation of the Chair's advise and consent, Chair?

Vice Chair's full aye. Senator Hashimoto

Senator Favella is excused. Recognition is adopted.

Okay for GM637, David Litman. Chair's recommendation is also to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay GM637 recommendation of the chairs to advise and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM528 Chair's recommendation is also to advise and consent for Carol Marx. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, GM528 recognition of the chairs to advise and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

Okay for GM574 Jacqueline Esser. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, GM574 recognition of the Chairs to advise and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

So for GM521 Chairs, Neil Chauhan, Dr. Chauhan, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

JM521 recommendation of the Chairs to advice and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM527 Dr. Kon Liu Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote

Okay, GM527 recommendation of the Chair's advisor is to advise and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's?Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM655 Chair's recommendation is till today is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, and concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, GM655 recommendation of the chairs to advise and consent. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

So for GM578 for Marilyn Seely. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, GM578 recommendation of the chair's advise and consent Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM636 Barbara Yamashita. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

So for GM543 Cecilia Wang. Chair's recommendation is advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote. Dr. Wang.

Okay, thank you very much. Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM542, Nguyen, Dr. Nguyen. Chair's recommendations to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, we're on 542.

Yes, 542, Dr. Nguyen.

Talk too fast.

All right, trying to keep up here, Chair.

Yes, Chair. Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM538 Gary Simon. Chair's recommendation is advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recognition is adopted, Chair.

For GM635, Forrest Wells. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

So for GM520, Malia Malufau. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

Four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted.

For GM634, Chair Sara Medeiros. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

For GM628 Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

For GM632, Jon Fujii. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

For GM169, Dayne Greene. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, or concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted, Chair.

Okay, four members are present. Any reservations? Any no's? Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you very much. And thank you very much for all those willing to volunteer and taking your time to come here. And we really do appreciate you folks.

And for those, for some reason in opposition, we really want not just experience, but the community aspect and their own personal experiences to give manao to these committees and the council. So, thank you all very much. And with that, we are adjourned.