Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

Calling the one o' clock hearing for the Committee on Health and Human Services regarding Governor's measures messages. I'd like to introduce my vice chair, Senator McKelvey. This meeting is being streamed live on YouTube.

In the unlikely event that we must abruptly end the hearing due to technical difficulties, the Committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business later at 1pm Wednesday, March 11 in room 225 and a public notice will be posted on the legislator's website to facilitate this hearing in a timely manner.

We will be enforcing a one minute limit on testimony for those testifying for nominees. The nominees will have far more than one minute. 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're interested in reviewing the written testimony, please go to the Legislature's website. You'll 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 we reviewed it.

So I encourage you to use your time to either add additional comments or you can stand on your written Testimony. First up, GM542 Jamie Gagnon for the West Planning Council West Oahu Sub area. Jamie Gagnon, are you present not present on zoom chair okay.

Dr. Lewin had test had informed me prior to hearing that Jamie Gagnon may not have been given notice of this hearing and for that reason we are deferring his her confirmation to Wednesday at 1pm March 11 to room 225.

Next up GM541 Health Planning Council West Oahu Sub Area Christine Kabingang Tinkang Christine Kabingang Tinkang, are you present on zoom?

Not present on zoom chair

okay.

Dr. Lewen O Shipta had also informed me that Christine Kabingan Tingan also may not have had received notice of today's hearing and for that reason we are also deferring her Confirmation to Wednesday 1pm March 11, room 225. Next up, GM688 Raylene Teno for Pabello Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs. Raylene Teno, come on up.

So Raelene, why is it that you would want to be sir in Pabea?

This is going to be my second term and during the first term well what really interested me is number one is seniors and having had taken care of family Members that were elderly and going through long term care and all that kind of stuff kind of piqued me because the ups and downs and the hurdles you have to go through.

My auntie was. We didn't know when we started having to caregiver her, but she was formally diagnosed with dementia. So it's going through all those trying to find resources, and, you know, you really. It's exhausting. You know, even though my.

My dad was actually put into hospice care, it still required me to drive all the way to the North Shore because he was at Crawford's. And it got to the point where they said, he's not eating unless you come here. And I'm like, from Kaneo.

We had to go two times a day, traveling out there to feed him, cook his meals. And also with my. My other hat. The other part is my association with Hawaii Council of Community Associations to have a representative body for condominiums and HOAs.

And in one of the state area plan, which is I'm having a big hurdle as the education chair is on emergency preparedness, awareness preparation. I'm hitting walls with not just condos, but even the agencies in doing education and trying to kind of come down. I use the word.

Can you use your leadership authority to kind of come down hard on the importance of it? And I do know that after the Maui fire, the area aging. The Maui area aging, Rowena had come to me goes, isn't it. Isn't it required? I go, no, we encourage it, but it's not in statute. So.

Because she said that was one of the biggest people complaining to her in Maui. And so we do have an emergency preparedness, and I'm trying to gear it toward our aging population, since that is the biggest population on the islands in Hawaii. But again, we hit.

We hit walls with the agencies trying to be a little bit firm on emergency preparedness. So I'm. That's my fight right now. Thank you. My little pet peeve fight.

Thank you for willing to do the fight.

And just so you know, because that part of that fight is also personal because I'm. I grew up in a Scouting family, so when you're Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, you're taught to be prepared. So that's part of my family dialogue, you know, so everybody always asks me, are you prepared for one?

I go, I've never had to go run to Costco or Sam's to buy whatever. I have it. Terrific.

You are super pretty good. Thank you very much. And I see Caroline Cuttyrao, but also see Jamie Cagnon. Could you hang on, Jamie? But next up is Carolyn Cuttyrao for Office of Aging in support of your nomination. Please proceed, Caroline.

Thank you. Chair and vice Chair and my apologies for not being there in person. Hi, Raeleen. We stand in strong support of Raelenes nomination. Similar to Rick, she's been on pabea for a while.

She's brought a lot of wealth and information around housing, condos, laws and things that even at the Executive Office on Aging we were not aware of. So you know, she'll be a great asset for the next four years of this nomination goes through and appreciate her willingness to volunteer. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Next we have Beverly Gottlie of chair of pabea, also in support of Raylene Teno, Sarah Medeiros in support. Gary Simon, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition in support. Barbara Service in support. Mike Galuu Sr. In support. And anybody else wishing to testify for GM688. Okay, sing. None. We're gonna move.

We're gonna move back and do DM at the very end. First, next up, we are recalling GM 542. Jamie Gagnon, Hawaii Health Planning Council for West Oahu Sub Area. Jamie, you're present on Zoom. Please proceed. Why do you want to be the Health Planning Council for West Oahu Sub Area?

This is new for me, but I am hoping to help—plan to help our people because our independent doctors right now are struggling. Our resources alone for providers are pretty limited.

So, we're just hoping to get more resources and hopefully, a system that is self-sustaining and closing the loop instead of just going to one section and finding out where we have to go after that. I just would like a nice leveled—I'm sorry, I'm so nervous right now.

It's fine. It looks like from your resume that you were a certified medical assistant and now you work in a physician collaborative, as well as volunteering for the Mormon Church, right?

Yes.

Okay, so SHPDA, State Health Planning and Development Agency. Dr. Lewin was present here, but for some reason, he thought that you would not be present. So, he did write written testimony and strong support for you, your nomination, and basically that's it. Members, any questions for Jamie Gagnon? Are there anybody else wishing to testify on GM 542?

Okay, stick around, Jamie. We will have DM decision making at the very end of the hearing, which won't be for another few minutes.

Thank you.

Thank you. No questions. Moving on. So, next, we have Kathleen Merriam, GM 712, for State Council on Mental Health. Kathleen, come on up.

Aloha, Senator.

Aloha. So, Kathleen, why is it that you want to serve the State Council on Mental Health?

Well, I have been serving for a while now, and I think I would like to do another term just to keep trying to make a difference for our mental health community. I have worked in mental health for over 40 years and over 20 here in Hawaii. So, I'm not done yet.

I see that you work for AMHD.

Yes.

For the Department of Health.

Yes.

The past six years, it appears.

22. Six was in my current position. So, I manage a community mental health center in Kaneohe.

Yes. And I really like clubhouses.

I know you do. Yes. That's what brought me to Hawaii, was to start new ones and then to expand the whole clubhouse movement. Unfortunately, the statewide clubhouse coordinator position was eliminated.

Oh, no.

And so, the clubhouses are really kind of decrease, decreasing, in their performances. Aloha. That's my Senator from Kaneohe. Yeah. So, yes, but thank you for your support for mental health. I've seen you at different openings. For example, behavioral health, the crisis centers, and so, those are going well, too.

Yeah. And it's always good to know that there are people who are aware of the challenges and the huge benefits that clubhouses do for the mental health community.

Yes. Yes.

Okay. So, thank you for, for being there, making sure that the policy continues. Okay. So, other people testifying on your behalf.

Is Hinnie Malka in support? Brian Baker of Hinnie Malka also in support.

Oh, I didn't know.

And Department of Health continuing to support your confirmation.

Thank you.

Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 712? Members, any questions? Okay. Why don't you have a seat? Okay. Thank you very much. We will have your DM later on. Okay, thank you. Next, we are recalling GM 560, Geoffrey Hicks from last week. Geoffrey, are you present? Oh, Jeff, good. I'm glad you're here. For Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.

So, Jeffrey, why don't you tell us why you'd like to serve for Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.

Well, I've been working in the field of justice and particularly with juveniles for much of my career. And it's very important to me. I'm learning a tremendous amount of. Currently, I'm the chairperson for the Juvenile Justice State Compliance Committee.

And the more work I do in this field and the more I learn, I really feel like I'm able to give back. I'm able to keep advancing my own knowledge about rehabilitation for juveniles and just, you know, I want to be able to leave a positive mark in that particular field. It's particularly important to me.

I mean, I have kids and, you know, I've been working with kids for A long time. And it's always a great feeling when maybe someday you run into somebody or, you know, not too long ago, I saw someone who'd been arrested years ago, and they were the. The waitress at the restaurant I was at.

And she said, oh, I remember, you know, you know, I'm like, oh, I didn't recognize her, of course, but I remember you. And I just want to let you know I'm going to law school soon and I'm doing so well.

And it's just like, really, that's one of the most fulfilling feelings I think you can really have is when someone's able to rehabilitate their life and turn it around in a positive way. So for me, that in particular is why juvenile justice is such an important thing to me.

And of course, adults can be rehabilitated as well, but it's better, I feel, if you can reach them younger and help people turn their lives around as soon as possible.

Thank you so much. Jeffrey Hicks, and he's from Wailuku, Maui. So that your. Your state Senator is my vice chair. So also in favor of Jeffrey Hicks, we don't have any one you've asked to nominate to speak on your behalf, but thank you so much for giving your time.

And I really like your statement, Geffrey, because as you know, in the law enforcement, because it looks like from your resume, it's mostly law enforcement, but for juvenile justice, we really look into rehabilitation because they're at that age right, where you can really turn their lives around.

And so being able to not only give them the opportunity, the carrots and not just the stick. Especially here in Hawaii, where at one time we were actually in the New York Times as having a zero population in our youth correctional facility. Okay. And I think that lasted for about six months.

Totally zero and about over a year for no girls. So we are really focusing on prevention and rehabilitation. And I'm glad that you think that you can contribute to that. Any other questions for Geffrey Hicks? Okay, are we ready to proceed to the decision making? Okay, thank you very much. So GM542, Jamie Cagnon.

Yeah, we were going to defer, but not. He showed up. No, that's it. That's it. Okay. Jamie Cagnon, GM 542 Health Planning Council West Oahu Sub area and Chair's recommendations to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none. Vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Recommendation is to advise and contend on the nomination. Noting the excuse of Senator Favella, of the Members present any WRs or no's? noticing none.

For GM 541 Christine Kabinga that one we are going to defer to a time certain of Wednesday, March 11th 1pm at Room 225. For GM 688 for PABEA Railing Teno, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none Vice Chair for the vote

Okay recommendation on GM 688 is to advise and consent. Noting the excuse of Senator Favella. Any WR's or no's? Seeing none recommendation adopted.

For GM 712 Kathleen Mariam for Council on Mental Health, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay recommendation on GM 712 is advise and consent. Noting the excuse of Senator Favella. Any WR's or no's? seeing none recommendation has been adopted.

For GM 560 Jeffrey Hicks, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay recommendation for GM 560 is to advise and consent. Noting the excuse of Senator Favella. Any WR's or no's? Seeing none, recommendation has been adopted.

And with that we are adjourned.

Thank you very much.