Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

Calling the 1pm Calendar of Health and Human Services, 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 business on Wednesday, April 9 at 1pm in room 225.

For those on Zoom, your audio will be muted and video disabled until shortly before it is your turn to testify. I will be reading a list of individuals who will be who submitted written testimony for each measure. We apologize if the closed captioning does not accurately transcribe the names.

If you're interested in reviewing the written testimony, please go to legislators 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. I reviewed them.

So I encourage you to use your time to either add additional comments or you can stand on your written testimony. So also if there is a technical glitch during your time to testify, we may have to move on to the next person due to time constraints.

So first up, GM544 submitting for consideration Emily Andrade for the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances for period to expire June 30, 2028. First up, Emily Andrade. Please proceed. I see that you're on Zoom.

Hi everyone, my name is Emily Andrade. I'm excited for this opportunity. I stand on my written testimony and happy to take any questions.

Okay, thank you very much. Next up, we have Department of Health in support. Department of Health, are you present on Zoom?

Yes, Madam Chair. Please proceed. My name is John Valera. I'm the administrator. Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division is standing on our our written testimony in support. Strong support of Ms. Andrade and for her reappointment to PACDEX. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next we have Jennifer Clark providing comments. Next we have Rachel Chang in support. Next we have Kauai Advisory Commission on Controlled Substances. Kule Aloha, Nalani Salcer in support. We have Linda Rich in support. Deborah Ludo in support. Kate Stevens in support. Alder Olive in support.

Anybody else wishing to testify on GM544 Members, any questions? So thank you Ms. Andrade. We will get back to you. If we have quorum for today, we apologize by the way, in case we do not make quorum because today is a recess day and tomorrow is a reading of third reading bill.

So people are probably if they're not here, they are in their offices reviewing the third reading bills for tomorrow's big vote. So next up, GM 545, Lilinoe Kaviha Kauahikaua for again, drug abuse and controlled substances for term to expire June 30, 2028. First up, Lilianoi, are you present?

Ok Members, Lilinoe Kauahikaua has provided answers to written questions and they are posted on the website. Next up, we have Hawaii State Department of Health in support. Department of Health, please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So this is John Valera from Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division testifying in strong support standing on our written remarks for her reappointment to our Commission.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Kule Aloha, Nalani Salzer for Hawaii Advisory Commission on Controlled Substances in support. Jerry Gertz in support. David Kawahikawa in support. Timo Apaka in support. Jordan Antonio in support. Catherine Akamine in support. Ikaika Regidor in support. Malia Zimmerman in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 545?

Okay, no one to ask questions of except the parlopel. Oh, and also present with me is Senator Troy Hashimoto. Next up, we have GM 547, Joanna Reddy, nominee for the Commission on Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances for turn to expire June 30, 2028. Joanna Reddy, are you present on Zoom?

Not present on Zoom. Chair.

Okay, Members, Joanna Reddy has also provide answers to our questions. Next up, we have Hawaii State Department of Health in support. Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So John Valera, Alcohol Drug Abuse Division, standing on our written remarks in strong support of Dr. Reddy as a medical representative of medical community to our to this Commission.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Errol Ingram in support. Errol Ingram, are you present on zoom?

Not present on Zoom. Chair.

Okay, Members, any questions of Department of Health? Again, Dr. Reddy has also provided us answers to questions on how she would be an asset to the Hawaii Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances. Okay, next up, GM 603 Ho’opi’ookalani Balaz, State Council on Developmental Disabilities. First up, Ho’opi’ookalani, are you present?

Yes, I am present.

Please proceed. Let us know why you want to become why you want to help out in the State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Well, given that I have a developmental disability, I'm on the autism spectrum. I've wanted to make sure that people with developmental disabilities are not just given the support they need, but to be treated equally like those who are neurotypical.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have State Council on Developmental Disabilities, [unintelligible] in support.

Thank you, Chair. Committee Members, we're in strong support of Ho’opi’oo to continue with the council. He has been on there for four years. This is a reappointment. It would be excited to continue that. Thank you so much for this opportunity to testify and strong support.

Thank you very much. Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council in support. And Ho’opi’ookalani Balaz again in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 603 Members, any questions? Next up, GM 605, Joshua Goats, also for developmental disability. They count on developmental disabilities. Joshua, are you present on Zoom?

Not present on Zoom. Chair.

Is he present at all? No. Okay. I'd like to point out that Joshua Goats did not provide us answers. Oh1, he did. I'm sorry. He did provide us answers to the questions. So it looks like he is willing to proceed. We have Daintree Bartolidus in support.

Thank you, Chair, Committee Members. Yes. Joshua was with the council about eight years ago when he was living on Hawaii island and he moved to Oahu for different opportunities. He is at work today and he apologized that he wasn't able to make it.

But he's a very strong advocate for individuals with disabilities and would love to keep him on our board. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Thank you very much. Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council also in support. And Joshua Goetz also in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 605. Members, any questions? Next up, GM 699. Lisa Vance for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Okay, first up, Lisa.

Aloha, Senator and Committee. Thank you so much for your consideration. I'm super excited to submit my written testimony to continue as the statewide person for the HHOSD corporate board.

And I am passionate about rural health and access to healthcare services and seeing how we can collaborate more as a system and fend ourselves off from what's happening at the federal level. So I'm in.

Okay. Thank you very much, Lisa, for willing to volunteer. Next up, we have Jack Lewin, State Health Planning and Developmental Agency.

Aloha chair. Hi, my name is Terry Vesperis and I'd like to stand in strong support on behalf of Dr. Lewin, Administrator for Shipta. And we'd like to stand on our written testimony. Thank you very much for your time.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Summer Mochida Meek, Hawaii State Rural Health Association in support. Julia Tulian of Hawaii of Hilo Benioff Medical Center Foundation in support. Brenda Ho, Hawaii Care Choices in support. I see Edward Chu here, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation in support.

[unintelligible].

Okay, thank you very much. Next, we have Elena Kabatu of East Hawaii Region of Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and support. Dr. Goodling in support. Dr. Ignacio of Hawaii Medical Association in support. Catherine Marquette in support. Terry Glass in support. Dr. Richard Robbins in support. J.D. d'Amezio. Dr. D' Amizio in support.

Clayton Mcgann, HHSC Vest West Hawaii Region in support. Candice Moore in support. Randy Kurohara in support. Lynn Finnegan in support. Dr. Frank Sayre in support. Lisa Rance again in support. And John o' Hara in support. Anybody else we can testify on? Lisa Vance. Okay, Members, any questions?

I'd like to also point out that I have my Vice Chair present, Senator Aquino. Next up, we have GM 700, Leslie Kimura, board of directors, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Kawakimura, I see that you're present on zoom. Please proceed.

Aloha [Hawaiian] Mahalo Nui, Madam Chair San Buenaventura, Vice Chair Aquino and Members of the Committee of Health and Human Services. I too, look forward to continuing in another statement on this important board of HHSC. I stand on my written testimony and I'm available for questions. Mahalo.

Leslie Kael Kimura. Next up, we have Elena Kabatu, Isabel Region of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation in support. Edward Chu, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation in support. Thank you so much. Mitchell Dodo in support. Kailani Laeha of Aha Punana Leo in support. Leland Park, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawaii in support. Randy Kurohara in support.

David Kurohara in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on Leslie Kaio Kimura? Seeing none. By the way, I did not know her first name was Leslie until I saw this, but thank you for volunteering, Ms. Kimora. Okay, next up, we have GM 716, Mark Augustine, also for, oh, this was a Commission on fatherhood.

So, Mark Augustine, are you present on Zoom? Are you present in person? Mark Augustine, please.

Hi, I'm. I'm present on Zoom. How you guys doing? Madam Chair and Committee Members. Super.

Mr. Augustine, tell us why you want to be in Commission on Fatherhood.

Well, you know, I believe that fathers matter, I believe that they need to advocate. They need someone to stand in their corner. And I want to be that guy. I don't want to be that part of a team. And I stand also on my testimony, too. So thank you. I appreciate it.

Yeah, thank you very much. And we have read your answers to the questions, and it seems that you really want to be engaged in the Commission on fatherhood. So thank you for that, Mark. Next up, we have Eduluzia Baguio Larena of Maui Family Support Services in support. Shelley Brown. Also Maui Family Support Services in support.

Tamara Agustin in support. Renita Drake in support. Daryl Hunter in support. Brandon Ching in support. Patricia Paranata in support. Gabriel Crane in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 716? Okay, seeing none. Moving on. Next up we have GM 734, Barbara Service for Pabea Policy Advisory Board of Elder Affairs. First up for seven before. Okay, excuse me.

We have Barbara Service. Are you present? Barbara, are you present on zoom?

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay, Members, Barbara Service has also provided us detailed answers to the questions we have given her and as to why she wishes to be a Member of pabea. Next up, we have Gary Simon, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, in support. Audrey Suga Nakagawa AA Rapi, Hawaii in support. Beverly Gautley in support. Sarah Lenzer Medeiros in support.

Anybody else wishing to testify on Barbara Service? Seeing none. Nobody asked questions of, so moving on. GM 758. Karen Glasser for State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Karen Glasser, are you present? Please proceed.

I am, Madam Chair. Thank you and the Senators for considering my application. And thanks to the Hawaii Department of Developmental Disabilities for inviting me to join. I stand by my testimony.

Okay, thank you very much. Next up, we have Dainty Bartolidus, Hawaii Council on Developmental Disabilities in support.

Thank you, Chair, Committee Members. Yes. So we're very excited to have Karen join us. We have been working with different organizations and Cerebral Palsy is an organization that we really haven't worked much with. So we're really excited to bring her to the board to again to just help work together a little bit more and combine and breed services so we could support one another. Thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Okay, thank you very much. Next we have Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council in support. Melissa Gibbo in support. And anybody else wishing to testify in GM 758. And yeah, I see that she has experience also in D.C. northern Virginia gives us different perspectives on State Council on Developmental Disabilities.

So thank you for willing to volunteer to give us your perspective on this. Okay, moving on, Members, any questions? No? Okay, moving on. GM 760, Leona S.A. Mcdermott for State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Leona, are you present on zoom? Are you present in person? I don't see.

Chair, she's currently unavailable on Zoom.

Oh, okay. Well, Members, Leona McDermott has also provided us answers to her questions and as to her perspective of being a parent, of having an autistic son and knowing the problems a parent and that son has to go through. So next up, we have Daintree Bartolodes State Council on Developmental Disabilities and support.

Thank you, Chair, Committee Members. We're in strong support of Leona. She comes from the island of Kauai, so it's very important to have our neighbor island folks represented as well. So we're very excited and happy that she's willing to serve on the board. Our meetings are hybrid. We could bring them in or they could go over zoom.

So. So we're trying to be very accommodating. And so we're really happy to have our board. And thank you for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you very much. Next we have Hawaii Self Advocacy Advisory Council in support. Leona McDermott in support. Desiree Takub in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 760 Members? Any questions? Okay, Are we ready to advice and consent? Okay, we're ready to do dm. And I like to note that my entire Committee is here.

Senator Fevella as well as Senator Keohokalole. So first up for GM 544, Emily Andrade. Chair's recommendation is to advice and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. Governor's message 544. Recommendation is to advise and consent. Chair and Vice Chair vote aye. [Roll cal]. Recommendation is adopted. Chair.

Okay. For GM 545, L. Kahikawa. Also to advise and consent. And I'd like to note, although no one testified, I believe she is related to a Ranger with a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a beloved Ranger who recently passed and who we relied on during the 2018 lava flow for his expertise. So she comes from good lineage.

So, advice and consent for Lilinoi Kawahikawa. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none.

Vice Chair Board a vote. Okay. Governor's message 545. Recommendation is to advise and consent. All Members are present. Any reservations? Nino. Recommendation is adopted. Chair.

So for GM 547, Dr. Joanna Reddy. Chair's recommendation is also to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, Governor's message 547. Recommendation is to advise and consent. All five Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos recommendation is adopted. Chair.

Okay, next up, GM 603, Hoopi Ookalani. Ballast. Chair's recommendations also to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair with a vote.

All Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted.

Okay, so for GM 605, Joshua Getz. Chair's recommendation is also to advise and consent. Any comments Questions concern Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay, all Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted.

So for GM 699 chair's recommendation for Lisa Rance is also to advise and consent I'd like to note Members that Lisa Rance has been super active with the East Hawaii Health Systems Corporation as well as East Hawaii the Big Islands Health Systems altogether. So she brings a breath of knowledge breadth of knowledge to the position.

So to advise and consent Any comments, questions, concerns Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay all five Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted Chair.

For GM 700 Kimura or Leslie Kahio Kimura. Ms. Kimura has also brought is going to bring a breath of knowledge to Hawaii Health Systems Corporation super active on East Hawaii community. Also I think the only the first female non Japanese although she has a Japanese last name to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

So we're really super proud of her. So for Leslie Ka iu Kimura, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay Governor's message 700 advising consent all five Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted Chair.

So, for GM 716 Mark Augustine Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

All five Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted Chair.

For GM 734 we've seen Barbara Services and testimony in various Elder Affairs Committee meetings. So Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

All Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted Chair.

For GM 758 Karen Glasser chair's recommendation is also to advise and consent Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay all Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted,

So GM 760 for Leona SA McDermott Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote.

All Members are present. Any reservations? Any nos? Recommendation is adopted Chair.

So, congratulations to all of you, none of you being present, all of you on Zoom and thank you so much for being willing to step up and volunteer. As you know, we need all of your perspectives for all these various boards and commissions.

So thank you very much and thank you for all of those, all of you folks willing to volunteer and testify and putting them up for nominations. Thank you and we are adjourned.