Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs

Good afternoon. The Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs is convening its amended, April 6, committee hearing at 3PM. This meeting is being streamed live on YouTube.

In the unlikely event that we have to end this hearing due to technical difficulties, the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business at 3PM on 04/08/2026, and a public notice will be posted on the important facts or standing on your testimony.

We have two resolutions that we're gonna be taking up today, and then we'll be going right into the Governor's messages and hopefully following up and confirming on some of these messages.

So the first pair of resolutions is Senate concurrent Resolution 55 and Senate resolution 53, which supports the findings and recommendations of the Hawaii Water Safety Com I'm sorry, Water Safety Coalition's Hawaii Water Safety Plan.

And, we have a variety of testifiers. We've received 26 written testimonies in support, one in opposition, and one set of comments. So first up, we have Department of Education, which has submitted, comments.

I don't see Mr. Hayashi at this point, so we'll move on to, Hawaiian Lifeguard Association, Kalani Vieira. Okay.

Not testifying for Hawaii Water Safety Coalition, Kirsten Hermstead. Okay. Next, testifying for snorkel safety study, Carol Wilcox. K. If not, we have, Jessamine Towne Corner, on Zoom.

Is she available on Zoom this afternoon?

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

K. Next, we have Aubrey Jones Williams, who is testifying in support.

Yeah. Chris Pearson.

Oh, okay.

Yeah.

Okay. Well, the next person on our listing was Allison Schaeffer. So we'll return to those that we may have already called upon, and then, Allison, you can start off the discussion and provide some of the background and context for, study and this resolution.

Sure. That would be my pleasure. Thank you so much. I'm a bereaved parent volunteer with the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition, and I'm the lead writer of the Hawaii Water Safety Plan.

The plan was created for our coalition with, more than 200 partners, government agencies, lifeguards, first responders, medical professionals, researchers, nonprofits, and cultural leaders.

I donated my professional writing and project management skills to transform their expertise and data, mainly from the Department of Health into a clear, actionable, and culturally grounded plan.

Hawaii is only the second state in the nation with a comprehensive statewide water safety plan and it has received national recognition. This work is urgent. Hawaii has the second highest drowning rate in the country.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for Hawaii's children ages one to 15, and it's the leading injury related killer of visitors. This is not simply because we are surrounded by water.

Outside of Alaska, Hawaii is the only state in the top 15 for water coverage that also has some of the worst resident drowning rate. Likely because we lack equitable access to swim instruction and water competency.

Less than two percent of our second graders can save themselves from drowning. Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities are drowning at 1.5 times the rate of the general population and they're keiki at three times the rate. The economic cost is staggering.

Four seventy five drowning deaths between 2019 and 2023 are estimated by the CDC to have cost nearly 4.75 billion before accounting for non fatal drownings. I am here because prevention matters.

In 2004, my five year old daughter, Charlotte Sharkey Schaeffer, drowned in an improperly flooded detention pond. Her death was preventable. While most drownings occur in the ocean, children under five typically drown in pools and other bodies of water,

and recent Kona low storms remind us that drowning prevention must be part of disaster and climate resilience planning. The Hawaii Water Safety Plan addresses all these hazards statewide.

The resolutions recognize drowning as a preventable public health crisis, advance equity, reduce long term costs, and save lives. Legislative support is essential, so I thank you very kindly for your leadership.

Right on the dot. Thank you very much.

Okay. We will circle back to Kirsten Hermstad and, Mr. Vieira, if you'd like to also come up at the same time.

I'll sit in a low chair.

K. Welcome.

Thank you. Aloha, Chair. Well, two Chairs. Aloha. Thank you for having us today.

My name is Kirsten Hermsett. I'm the Executive Director of the Hawaiian Life Art Association. I have submitted testimony and I think you guys have heard us testify before, but you heard all the stats from Allison and they're shocking.

And I think it's really important to note that this water safety plan, we've already put it to action. It contains recommendations on what we need to do to improve our situation here in Hawaii.

And we're already working on those recommendations in partnership with government, with professionals, with community, and it's working. And so this is the perfect vehicle to move us forward and recognizing it will allow us to access sources of revenue and create

further partnerships with community and government to fix our problem. So we really appreciate your time and consideration for for recognizing the plan for the important document that it is. Thank you.

Yes. Aloha. Sorry for tardiness. We just got off the plane. Aloha, Chair and Members of the committee.

My name is Kalani Vierra, and I am the Operation Chief of the Kauai Ocean Safety Bureau and also the President of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association. I've been serving our community as an ocean safety officer in Hawaii for over thirty years.

Over the course of my career, I have responded to countless water emergencies, many of which were preventable. I've seen family families devastated by drowning and near drownings that could have been avoided with better education, awareness, and preparation.

The Hawaii water safety plan would bring another education, prevention, and response into one unified strategy. I would it would help ensure our Keiki learns water safety early, the visitors understand the risk of our ocean, and that our communities have the tools to prevent emergencies before

they happen. Enjoying time in and around the water is a big part of our culture and in our daily lives. It's all our responsibility, our Kuleana, to protect our communities, our keiki, and all who enters our waters. I humbly ask you guys support in this matter. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Anybody else? Anybody else? Questions?

Okay. Go ahead. I understand that City and County of Honolulu also is embracing. Yes. Is this separate from what they have?

Or they joined the group?

No.

Yes. So the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association is a statewide nonprofit. Right. And the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition is a program of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association. And so that the plan was developed by the coalition with the support of all four, at that time, county lifeguard bureaus.

And so, yes, it's all one plan for the whole state supported by all four bureaus.

Yeah. I it's kind of interesting too that you're here from Kauai because I'm a swimmer. I mean, like, in my young days, but I enjoyed the water. But I've noticed that Kauai has almost, like, every week visitors were drowning, including, you know, some residents.

And it comes to mind certain periods, and I think we if you're local, you know about the water during seasons. And it always comes to mind like I was taught. And we learned about you don't get into the water during the winters. The winter season.

And so I'm just wondering, you know, with visitors if they're not briefed, you know, or educated about, you know, the seasonal waters that happens, the under toes. I mean, I've been taking under toes as well, but because I swim, you know, you can somehow try to save yourself.

Yeah. But I'm not sure, you know, how we can advance the education part. And, you know, when visitors are here at the hotels, I mean, we know they're there, but, you know, those who are, you know, concerned about these issues are not around to tell them.

So perhaps maybe we can do an education marketing thing about pamphlets maybe left in the rooms, the hotel rooms throughout the state, and maybe have an opportunity to speak with HTA, you know, OHA and somehow come up with some educational materials so we can kinda distribute it

to the rooms on all the hotels and accommodations. I mean, that's I'm sure that's going to be costly, but, you know, it it's just something that

We'll leave this with you. This is the actual plan. It has all the valuable information exactly what you've been talking about of how we can work together to Yeah. Make all those different

And it doesn't necessarily I mean, that's costly. So, you know, I'm not sure how that can be distributed, you know, to the hotel rooms, but at least some kind of educational, you know, pamphlet.

Well, that's exactly what the plan addresses. So the the back half of the plan is specific recommendations on exactly those types of things that need to happen. And many of those things are happening already.

In fact, Department of Health has a campaign that will be launched on May year, talking about exactly what you're doing with messaging for the visitor industry.

Both the tour the visitors themselves and the visitor industry professionals need training as well so that they can direct people to the right way. So those types of things are already happening.

Good.

And that plan reinforces it and gives us a a a way to strategically plan exactly what you're talking about and to execute it. Yep.

Yeah. And, you know, we're in a different era nowadays. You know, there's climate warming. I mean, everything else is in the picture now that, you know, wasn't relevant, you know, as we all grew up. Yeah?

Yeah. So okay. Yeah. But thanks for all you do.

Thank you.

You know? It's heartwarming, but, yeah, it's too catastrophic to learn that visitors are dying and drowning and you know? It's so sad. You know? They come here to enjoy, and they're happy to be here, and they're not going home alive.

Yeah. Exactly. Thank you. Thanks, Chair. Thank you. Also very sorry we were late.

No. No. Good recap on what has been done already. So is there anyone else who would like to testify on Senate concurrent Resolution 55 and

Chair, we have someone on Zoom.

Great. Welcome. Please identify yourself.

Hi. My name is Jessamy Town Hornor, and I'm testifying in support of the resolution regarding the Hawaii Water Safety Plan. Okay. And Thank you. Yes.

Thank you. I stand on my testimony. I am here as an individual, but my background is that I'm a cofounder of the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition, and I come to this arena as a bereaved family member.

I lost my husband, Mark, and my daughter, Mina, in July 2016 at the Makapuʻu tide pools, as noted in my testimony, and I've been working for almost ten years now to get this Hawaii Water Safety Plan and this vision to have a leadership level support of drowning prevention and

water safety so that we can have that inter agency coordination that I believed would have made all the difference for my family, because there was not that directive to make sure that you know we can envision and see ways to prevent these tragedies by working together.

So I appreciate you hearing this resolution and everybody else who's testified.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. Thank you. We do have your written testimony, and so we appreciate your appearing on Zoom. Okay. Is there anyone else who would like to comment on this pair of resolutions?

Okay. If not, and Senator Inouye, did you have any additional questions? Okay. We'll turn to Senate concurrent Resolution 59, which requests the governor to establish procedures to authorize certain healthcare professionals to engage in the practice of their reflective professions

in the state without a Hawaii issued license during a state of emergency. And we have received written testimony from Molly Schmidt of American Red Cross.

I believe she's gonna be joining us on Zoom.

Not present on Zoom, Chair.

Okay. We may be moving along at a rapid clip. So if you'll notify us if she does arrive shortly, then we'll turn to our governor's message nominees next.

The first nominee is governor's message 715, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaii Advisory Council on Emergency Management. Congregational nominee, Juan Vigil, for a term to expire June 30 on 2030.

Do we I don't believe we have any, testimonies from the departments or mister Vigil. So is anyone in the room, available to testify on governor's message 715? If not, anyone on Zoom?

No one on Zoom, Chair.

Okay. If not, we will turn to witness message 0730, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the advisory board on veteran services gubernatorial nominee, Janet Covington, for a term to expire June 30, 2030. And I believe we have miss Covington available with us today.

Yes, ma'am.

Aloha. Aloha. Aloha.

I'm Janet Covington, and I'm the clinical supervisor at the Ohana Resiliency Center at Child and Family Service. It's a behavioral health clinic that specializes in behavioral health services for veterans, active duty service members, and their families. Welcome.

I mean, I'm so sorry. We did wanna ask you if you would be willing to just run through some of the responses you provided to the committee. It's nice. Also to give both the public and the members kind of some insights into your experience and background.

Sure. Oh, well, I believe that my experiences are a little more unique for the board. I am the child of an active duty service member who retired a few decades ago. So I spent most of my childhood traveling from base to base and really experiencing the military lifestyle.

We came to Hawaii when I was seven years old, and my mom and dad just loved it here. My mom is from Japan. My dad is from Pittsburgh. And my dad said this is not a place that Pittsburgh is not the place I wanna live the rest of my life, but Hawaii, this is paradise, and it was close to Japan too.

So they made it a point that Hawaii would be their home when he finished his service. So when I was 12, we came back here, and he retired here, and I've been here ever since.

And my husband is a Vietnam veteran. He was in the air force. So I've had the experience from a a family member standpoint of serving in the military. But the other side of it is being in behavioral health. I have seen firsthand the challenges that our service members and our veterans experience.

And, there is great need. And I feel that that as a member of this particular board that I can bring that experience, you know, front and center to really look at veteran mental health needs and family needs and be able to support them in that way.

I have a passion, you know, and a commitment, you know, for military service members because of my dad being in in the army, my husband being in the air force. My dad served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He's 95 years old.

He's quite elderly, but still kicking, still ornery. You know? And my my husband is a Vietnam veteran. So, you know, just just being able to to see what their challenges are, I think, has made me want to help in big ways. So I try as much as possible to to volunteer, you know, in organizations that that help veterans.

And I believe that this is another way that I can bring forth the experiences I have. Mental health was not my first profession. You know, I have worked in in other industries. You know, I was in public relations and advertising when I when I first graduated with my bachelor's degree.

I worked in property management, you know, in a capacity to manage resort condominiums. I have served for about a decade as the Executive Director of the Aloha Festivals. So I did a lot of work with our local community, and volunteerism was very big there.

And and also was the fundraiser for the Hawaiian Humane Society before I returned to school to get my master's degree. And then behavioral health spoke to me, and I decided at a advanced stage that I was going to switch gears and change professions. And that's what got me to where I am today.

And so I think that when when when people ask me what what I do and sometimes, you know, when I leave the house, my husband will say, so what are you gonna do today? And I say, oh, I'm going to heal hearts and mend minds and soothe souls.

And I walk out the door, and he says, you go, girl. You know. But but I believe that's what we're all here to do. You know, we're all here to help our our communities and the people that are in Hawaii of which veterans are a very, very large percent of.

And so I would hope that in your discussions that you would find my experiences to be something that could very much add on to our board and to help me move forward with my commitment to serve our veterans and their families.

Well, thank you. You have really covered a lot of ground in a very short time.

Good. I hope I was within my time.

Thank you. Thank you. We will call up some of our other testifiers and ask ask you to come back if we have questions, but I think you've covered everything that we could possibly ask.

Okay. And more. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for having the opportunity to have your name there. You know, this is one thing that throughout our state, the counties have problems to getting people to run for commissions or you know, so having, you know,

submitted your name as well and and offered to serve, and our veterans certainly needs a lot of help. But today, at least we know that the veterans are well served compared to prior years.

You know, the counties and people like yourself are out there. Thank you too.

Okay. We also have, Department of Defense, John Almaden for Office of Veteran Services. Welcome.

Aloha, Chair Fukunaga, Senator Inouye, John Alomodo, State of Hawaii Department of Defense, Office of Veterans Services. I stand on my testimony's strong support, but would like to add I've known, Janet Covington since I returned from my third deployment in 2018.

Currently, my role on the military side as chief of behavioral health, I interface with Janet Covington constantly on mental health issues regarding our national guard members in addition to veterans as well.

When you look at the composition of the highest need, whether it be related to chronic illness or alcohol drug abuse, suicidality, and other issues facing veterans, including transition from military service to civilian life.

Janet Covington has very, very much in-depth knowledge of what that those kind of journeys look like. And oftentimes it is a struggle so to have someone of her expertise within the state advisory board will be a tremendous. What we call a force multiplier in our efforts to perhaps reach out to veterans who may

hesitate to reach out to agencies such as the VA. And so forth because of whether it be a stigma from what they've how they view themselves in addition to just being intimidated by systems.

And her knowledge base to be able to help veterans navigate through those difficult times will be a tremendous addition onto the board. So thank you for my opportunity to testify and very much in strong support of Janet Covington's candidacy.

Thank you very much.

Okay. We have also received a number of other written testimonies in support of, this nomination. I don't believe they signed up to testify. I'm just gonna run through them very quickly. Amanda Punt from Child and Family Services.

Thank you.

Jack Covington. Is there anyone else who would like to comment on governor's message 0730? If not, thank you very much for your comments. We'll turn next to Governor's Message 731.

This is, nominating, submitting for consideration and confirmation to the advisory board on veteran services gubernatorial nominee Jason Peele.

For term to expire on June 30, 2030. And I believe we have Colonel Pierre Peele here with us this afternoon. And you were here last week when we did Vietnam vet.

Yes, ma'am.

Revised Squad.

Prince Medal.

So thank you very much for coming back again. Please, if you have any opening remarks, if you'd like to walk through, you know, some of your responses to the committee's questions.

I do. Thank you, ma'am. Chair, distinguished members of the committee, good afternoon, and aloha. My name is Jason Seal. Thank you for the opportunity to be appear before you today in support of my nomination to the State Advisory Board on Veterans Services.

I come before you with, over 27 years of dedicated service in the United States Marine Corps. That career provided me with a deep experience in leadership, mission accomplishment under challenging conditions, and a profound understanding of the sacrifices made by our service members

as well as their family members. Following my retirement from the Marine Corps and my transition to civilian life, I remain strongly committed to the veteran community here in Hawaii through my membership within numerous veterans service organizations.

For several years, I served as an accredited service officer and assisted numerous veterans in successfully navigating their VA disability claims. After the devastating Maui wildfires, I worked directly with veterans in Maui that were impacted and helped them gain access to resources and support that

they needed. I now serve as the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Hawaii, where I continue to advocate for veterans across our state. Additionally, I had the privilege of serving on the VA Pacific Islands Healthcare Systems Veterans Community Task Force,

as the executive assistant to the cochair, Dr. John Henry Felix. In that role, I gained valuable insight into the interagency collaboration between private organizations, state agencies, and federal partners that is so essential to effectively supporting Hawaii's veterans.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve our veterans in these capacities, and I would be honored to bring this experience and dedication to the State Advisory Board of Veterans Services. Thank you for your time and consideration. Aloha.

Thanks, Munoz Peil. If you'll remain at the table, we'll also call up John Alomodo for his testimonies, and then give members a chance to ask any questions if they have some.

Hello, Chair Fugunaga, committee members. John Alomodo, office of veteran services. I've known Jason Seal since my appointment into the OVS position 2024. And when you combine, the ability for someone who's, had long time service and still wants to dedicate him or herself into serving the

veteran community, I mean, that's a a combination that, is very hard to find. When you look at those of us who served the wild, once we you know those of us and although I'm still in those who have left military service perhaps would just kind of want to totally be apart from anything military.

But to his credit he dove himself into really finding ways in which veterans can access the services needed. You know as he mentioned he is a VSO, a veteran services officer so that experience would be unique on the board.

We don't have anyone who served in that capacity so certainly he can provide the insights with regard to why it is challenging at times to access the VA.

One would think with the wealth of resource surely there shouldn't be no issue but there is and so certainly someone from his with his experience can provide that added insight to have guide the board into directions and how the OVS as a state entity can better interface with the VA as a federal entity.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Members any questions?

Kinda just curious. I noticed in your resume that you're a life member of the American Legion. Is the American Legion still alive and well or that service?

Yes, ma'am. It is.

And the reason why I brought it up, Aye, of course, lifetime member of the Sugar Plantation families. And I remember one of our neighbors who was a Filipino immigrant, worked in the plantations.

He was a member of the American Legion, and we had an American Legion, building on Benyon Drive. And so they had their own, you know, accommodations for their meetings, and I'm thinking, wow. You know, it that's gone.

I'm I mean, you know, because a hotel already was built after I'm not sure if the American Legion owned the, you know, the building, but they must have because that was their their go to place. And so it disappeared, and I'm that's why I'm asking, is it still, I mean, active? And.

Yes, ma'am. And I said and they are a very healthy part of the Oahu Veterans Council. In fact, the last.

How many on the islands do we still have active American Legions?

The exact number?

Yeah. Because

Senator?

I guess do we have one on the Big Island?

I believe we have two. I might be wrong, but I believe we have two. But, yes, the American Legion is still very active in the state.

Great. Okay.

That was good to know because I've and I've been at that building because Banyan Drive is where, you know, we all used to go swimming and, you know, and I also attended events because the gentleman I spoke about was our neighbor.

So he would take us there when there were special events as guests. But and thanks for all you do as well.

Senator Inouye, our West Hawaii State Of RCA board member, retired command sergeant major James Hussey. He's an active member of the Westside American Legion.

Oh, okay. Yes. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Any further questions? If not, thank you very much, gentlemen.

Thank you, Chair.

It's been a kind of a very rewarding glimpse of some of the things that we might be able to do with some of your experience. Finally, we will turn to our last GM message 786 submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Crime Victim Compensation

Commission gubernatorial nominee Joe Byrne for a term to expire June 30, 2030. And I believe we have miss Byrne here as well as, the representative from the Crime Victim Compensation Commission. Welcome.

Thank you. Thank you, Chair Fukunaga and Members of the committee. I am Jo Kamai Byrne, and I have just recently completed my first term as a commissioner on the crime victims commission and compensation commission,

and I have found it a very educational and rewarding ability opportunity to serve, and I would appreciate an opportunity to continue if that's possible. I believe in public service. I just don't have enough energy to run for public office. So people.

That takes a lot of energy. It takes a lot of energy.

So having an opportunity to serve on a commission that's as meaningful as a crime victim compensation commission is one area that would really fulfill my own personal goal to be an active member in a democracy serving Hawaii and our community.

I have a very long, nowadays very long history of advocacy starting from the 1980s, 1990s in women's and children's issues, in domestic violence, in rights for women, and numerous opportunities to serve on boards and non profits and I bring that experience to this opportunity to serve because we learned

to listen to those who are not necessarily recognized oftentimes, and our laws focus, and rightfully so, on the rights of those who are accused of crimes.

But the victim in the past has always been overlooked and yet they are the ones that often suffer the greatest. And so this commission is very valuable from that perspective that we are now listening to, serving, and trying to support those who were often forgotten.

So this is why it seems it is a very important and very appealing opportunity for me to serve.

Thank you very much.

Is this a separate commission from VASH?

Yes. Yes.

Oh, okay. And but VASH seems like their policies were an interest to make sure that victims are taken care of and also bring victims back to testify in courts. Is that what you do as well We are with this commission? This commission

is a little different from that perspective. The Commission itself is mandated to offer compensation to crime victims for expenses they incur and advocacy is supported but not necessarily the focus of the Commission.

The Commission's role really zeroes in on that financial support, which often is a bridge between real struggle and recovery and moving forward. So the lovely part of it is that this community binds together with other victim services Sure. So that it adds the additional element of financial support.

So you also bring victims from out of state. Right? Yes. Do you compensate them as well to come and testify if there's courts?

Victims who have experienced crime here in Hawaii are supported in that manner.

Yes. Okay. Reason I say that, well, I volunteered myself with the VASH program on the Big Island. Nice. And Before I decided to come and do the people's work here at the capital Don't have time anymore, but whenever I could help Yes.

You know, that's something that we need to address for our vic you know, our visitors because they sometimes are the victims as well.

Yes.

And, everyone else that, needs assistance. We thank you for your service.

Actually, it was that an experience just like that, an episode in which way back in the nineteen eighties, late eighties or nineties, there was a Scandinavian visitor who was gang raped in Waianae. And the I think there were eight boys who were total were acquitted because.

Even though that sounds familiar.

Yeah. Because the social styles of Scandinavia was a lot more moderate than the times in Hawaii and they let them off because of that. Focusing on the victim's behavior and history as opposed to focusing on what the boys actions were.

And that enraged me as a nice Japanese quiet girl to get up and do something. And it has been a motivating factor, voice at the table and listening to those who do not speak up or have not opportunity to speak up. Yeah.

Okay. There's a Bernie that was very active in our community in Hilo. Is that related to you as well? Because Bernie is not a common name. No.

No. My husband was my first husband, Desmond, was from England. So and the only two kids are now living in San Francisco. So they're not all

Thank you. Thank you for all you do. I think you. So this program.

This is part of this is part of, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It has been in existence for a long time. I think VASH was established through the visitor industry's assistance.

And so they primarily provide a lot of the funding support, you know, to assist visitors who are victims of crime. But this was something that has been established in Hawaii law for at least 25, 30 years.

I think it was, you know, during some of the very early days of, sexual assault treatment center as victims were oftentimes the victims of sexual assault.

Yeah. Oh, okay. Was this established when you and I were serving here in the late two thousand?

Yes. Yes.

Okay. During our time?

Yes.

Well, I was here ten years from '98 to '08. I left. Then I returned in 2014. Sorry. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you for all you do, but guys, you know, it's just wonderful that there's these programs

Yes.

That can help Absolutely. As many people as possible. Thank you, Chair.

Okay. Thank you very much, Ms. Byrne. We also have on behalf of Crime Victim Compensation Commission, Executive Director Ferguson-Bray.

Good afternoon, Chair, Members. Pam Ferguson-Bray, the Executive Director of the Crime Victim Compensation Commission. I'll stand on my written testimony. I'm very, very grateful that Jo Kamai Byrne has agreed to be reappointed. She's been a really valuable member of the commission.

Few people know that in and, actually, I think that, when the Senator was a representative, she joined with us and I was at the commission on the status of women.

We fought to have a woman on this commission and to make to and worked hard to make sure that it was victim centered and trauma informed.

And so since that time, actually, Joe has been sort of a member of the vast coalition of victim service providers that work, with VASH, who we work with a lot.

They said they send us clients as well. So we're very excited to have her really a closer member of our our our Ohana to work with victims and to have her expertise and knowledge as we transform our program to be more victim centered and more responsive to the community that we serve.

So thank you very much.

Thank you. Okay. That brings us to the end of today's agenda. Is there anyone else to testify on governor's message seven three one? See, we will take a brief recess, and then, I believe we will let's see.

Did we ever IT, did we ever get, the testifier on Zoom from the American Red Cross?

No. We didn't, Chair.

Okay. Thank you very much. Recess.

Good afternoon. We're resuming this afternoon's Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs. We had two resolutions of which, we'd like to recommend adoption for the first tier, Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 and Senate Resolution 53,

supporting the findings and recommendations of the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition's Hawaii Safety Plan. Recommendation is to pass this pair of resolutions in an unamended form. Any questions, comments?

The work is really kind of continuing. So we want to encourage further work, especially as we have more emergency circumstances facing us. Okay. With that Chair recommends passing an unamended form. Acting Vice Chair Hashimoto, would you please take the vote?

Alright. SR 53, SR 55. Chair's recommendation passed on amendment. [Roll Call] Vice Chair's excused for this measure and all others. [Roll Call] Chair recommendation's adopted.

Thank you very much. On the next resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 59 requesting the governor to establish procedures to authorize certain health care professionals to engage in the practice of their professions in the state without a Hawaii issued license during a state of emergency.

The American Red Cross testimony, written testimony did have a number of recommendations, which the chair would like to adopt so as to make it, as smooth as possible for us to be able to, accept the availability of health care professionals, especially during emergency circumstances.

There are also a couple of technical and non substantive amendments that our drafting agency has identified. Any questions, comments? If not, then Senator Hashimoto for the vote.

SCR 59. Chairs are going to pass with amendments. [Roll Call] Any Members voting for reservations or no? Without others voting Aye. Recommendations adopted.

Thank you. On the next governor's message 715, we have sort of a puzzling situation in which this was part of a prior agenda, and the individual had to withdraw for that particular agenda due to a family emergency. This individual has not responded or submitted any comments.

So we would like to defer action on this particular governor's message and see whether the governor has additional individuals that they would like to consider. Or GM, 715.

715. This is nominee, Juan Ditchell. Okay. Next.

So are we deferring it or okay.

And we will report back to the governor and see how we we would like to confirm. No. We're just deferring to confirm with the governor. Next three on the agenda today, governor's message 730 for gubernatorial nominee Janet Covington for the veterans board on veteran services.

Governor's message 731 for Colonel Jason Seal, nomination to the board on veteran services, and governor's message 786 for gubernatorial nominee Jo Byrne for the Crime Victim Compensation Commission.

She would like to recommend that we advise on consent on all three of these, recommendations. Any questions, comments? Okay. If not, then Senator Hashimoto.

Members, this is GM 730, 731, and 786. Chair?

I vote Aye.

Any members voting with reservations or noes? All other with all others voting Aye. Recommend it's adopted.

K. Thank you. Thank you. And we have three governor's messages from a prior hearing. First one is Raymond Mullen.

Governor's message, 623. Nominee to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee. Governor's message 624, gubernatorial nominee, Sho Inouye for the Hawaii Parole Authority.

And the third one is governor's message 625, gubernatorial nominee Robert Harder to the advisory council on emergency management. All three of these, did submit responses to our questions and appeared during the prior hearing.

So the Chair would like to recommend that we advise and consent also on these three individuals so that we can take advantage of the expertise and experience that they bring to each of their phones. Okay. Any questions?

Just for GM 624, sorry. I wasn't available at this hearing. The Paroling Authority is still three.

Three people of the authority. You know, they're told. But the question is, is this particular person from an island or it's not designated? It's not not designated. Identify yourself and

I'm sorry. It's Gene DeMello Jr, the Parole Board Chairman. So miss Inouye is from the island of Oahu, and there are three active and myself, siting members. We are currently recruiting a fourth.

Okay. Yeah. So but the authority is not specific for island, so whatever. So most of them are Oahu?

The majority. We have had neighbor island.

Serve, yes. Yes. In the past.

Before?

But you have the three now is all Oahu?

Oh, yes.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you for the clarification. Thank you. Okay.

So recommendation is to advise and consent. Senator Hashimoto?

This is for GM 623, 624, 625. Chair's recommendation and advise and consent. Chair?

I vote Aye.

Members, any voting with reservations or noes? Without others voting Aye. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you. This brings us to the end of today's agenda. Thank you very much members. We are adjourned.