Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services

Good afternoon. Mahalo or joining us today at the health human services 1PM calendar on April. We are convened today in Room 225. This meeting is being streamed live on YouTube. In the unlikely event that we must abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, the committee will be convened to discuss any outstanding business at 01:01PM, Monday, April 13 in Room 225, and a public notice will be posted on the legislator's website.

To facilitate this here in a timely manner, we will be enforcing a one minute limit on testimony for everyone except for the nominees. The nominees will, have a lot longer than that. 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 legislator'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 review them. So I encourage you to use your time to either add additional comments or can stand on your written testimony. So first up, we have GM 539, Jody Hashimoto for health planning council, Honolulu County sub area for a term to expire 06/30/2029. So is Jody Oh, you're here present.

Please proceed. Let us know why it is you're willing to serve in the health planning council or Honolulu Sub Area.

Oh, hi. Good afternoon. I've been a health care consultant for a while.

I'm sorry. Please identify yourself so everyone on Zoom will know who you are.

Okay. Hi. Good afternoon. I'm Jodi Hashimoto. I'm interested in being a member of the Honolulu Sub Area Health Planning Council.

I had a chance to work with Tori Abe Carapello, the current committee chair on a task force, and she had asked me if I'd be interested in being part of the committee. I've been in health care for over thirty years as a consultant, working in Hawaii, and I've had the opportunity to work with a lot of organizations and a variety of providers. And so this experience has given me a lot of knowledge of the health care industry and some familiarity with the health care system here.

And I always appreciate all of the work that Hawaii providers and all of our health care organizations do. And so I wanted to serve on the committee as a way to contribute.

Okay. Thank you very much. K. On behalf of GM 539 we have doctor Lewin who's also present in support.

Chair San Buenaventura, good day. And we're very delighted to have, to bring Jodi on board. Our chair of chair of the of the council actually recruited her, because of her experience. She will be, you know, bring a different kind of expertise to the Hansac, and a really important one because, you know, health care is going through some tumultuous changes these days.

Oh, yeah.

And the fact that that Jodi really understands organizational, performance improvement, financial IT systems, organizational effectiveness. It's it's really it's a set of skills that we don't have on the council and we're really looking forward to having her join us and and share her expertise with us on the policy decisions we're making.

Yes. Thank you very much. Okay. Next up, we have Hilton Rathel, Healthcare Association of Hawaii in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 539?

Okay. There's no one can ask questions except for me. So Jodi, I see your resume. I agree with Doctor Lewin in that your experience in healthcare consulting, management, You actually even have a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from UC Berkeley.

Very smart person. As well as your history, I guess, in accounting shows the kind of breadth we need in expertise and not just healthcare practitioners. So thank you for being willing to serve in the Health Planning Council. We are we may not be able to do decision making today because, as you can tell, I'm the only one here, and we need quorum. But but thank you.

Okay. Next up, we have GM556, Pat Waterhouse, State Council on Mental Health for term to expire 06/30/2028. Pat. Okay. Please identify yourself and please proceed.

Let us know what it is, why you want to be in the State Council on Mental Health.

Good afternoon, Chair. I am Mary Pat Waterhouse, and I have been on this council for a little over well, almost four years now. And I have personal experience with with mental health in my a couple of family members. And I've been on boards of mental health Hawaii, mental American mental health of Hawaii, as well as I said, this board and also, Hawaii disability rights center.

So I've had the privilege of getting to to know the issues in this over many years now based on personal as well.

And I really, this council or committee, I should say, that that I'm I've applied to be on again. I've been really impressed with the people, both state members as well as outside members, and there's a real commitment as well as a passion for this area.

K. Thank you very much. Next, in behalf of GM 556, we have Brian Baker from Hina Mauka in support. The Department of Health, I see, Department of Health on Zoom also in support. Please proceed.

Behavioral health.

Yes. Aloha, chair San Buenaventura and vice chair Mckelvey. Thank you for hearing GM 556, my name is Carolyn Wagon Hildebrand on behalf adult mental health division planner on behalf of the DOH. The DOH stands on its written testimony in support of the second term of Mary Pat Waterhouse.

Mary Pat Waterhouse is one of your most active council members, and she really elevates the the proceedings and the facilitation of meetings because of the combination of experiences that she has, not only as in government and also as leaders of course, but also even her volunteering effort.

She is she she knows inside and out the the activities at the clubhouses because she also volunteers at, for example, White Maui clubhouse. So I'm here to respond to any questions that you have.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Next, we have Michael Golojud senior in support. Connie Mitchell of IHS also in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM 556?

Members, any questions? Okay. Again, thank you, Mary Pat Waterhouse, for willing to serve a second term. I did see, the lived experience you have of having to take care of your brother and sister in law's kids. And and and really, your knowledge and experience really adds to the to the council's, efforts in in helping the state and the legislature craft policy regarding mental health.

So thank you very much. Again, we gotta wait until decision making till I have quorum. So thank you very much. Next up, GM 564, Shawn Kanaiaupuni for Juvenile Justice State Advisor Council for term to expire 06/30/2029. Shawn, are you present?

I see that you are. Okay. Please identify yourself and let us know why it is you want to serve in the juvenile justice state advisory council.

Aloha. Aloha for this consideration. I've been on the JJ SAC for a number of years now, and, just finding a valuable way to to, try to inspire and imagine and ideate and create, you know, good how to create good policy that supports young people as they, move from criminal legal system involvement out of that to become positive community contributors in ways that manage both public safety and their own journeys as young people that have so much promise in this world, with the right kind of support.

I also sit on the executive board of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, which is a national organization involved in this kind of work. And so being able to keep those ties between Hawaii and some of the national policy and advocacy and programmatic work has been really I found that very rewarding.

And then working alongside our judiciary, we have such amazing change makers in our judiciary and, being able to support their efforts, on the ground in our both in our cultural diversion and safe house programming at Partners in Development Foundation where I work, is able to we're able to work together with them to accomplish their goals and positive change. So, yeah, thank you again for considering me.

Okay. Thank you very much. On behalf of GM564, we have Jared Ellis, early childhood action strategy in support. Rona Fukumoto, Lanakila Pacific in support. Melissa Pavlichek in support.

Capri Tulang De Silva in support. Kaohi Gomera in support. Justice Castro Verde Moniz in support. Anybody else wishing to testify in GM564? Members, any questions?

Okay. So Sean, our DM is gonna be we've had forum. So we have Senator Kanuhai and Senator McKelvey here, so we'll be able to do a DM today, but not allowed to the end of the calendar. And thank you again for willing to step up for a second time. Thank you.

K. Next up

Thank you.

Thank you very much. So GM732. John Kawamura, board of certification of operating personnel in wastewater management. John Kawamura, are you present?

I am present.

Come on up. You need to come up

Well, we need wastewater guys. Especially now. Okay. We don't want it to be flushed away.

We need him out in the fields.

Okay. So okay. So, John, identify yourself and let us know why it is you're willing to serve in the operating board of certification of operating personnel in wastewater treatment.

Good afternoon, Senator Buenaventura. My name is John Kawamura, and I am interested in serving in the board because I care about the not only the operators, but also the environment to help to help have qualified operators so they can treat the sewage enough to where it'll protect the environment.

Okay. And not only that, we need we're testing sewage now, right, to determine whether or not there are viruses like during COVID.

COVID.

Right? And and we're also using it to see whether or not they're precursors of of measles and other infectious possible diseases. So we need people like you. Okay? So, k.

So on behalf of GM732, we have Michael Golojuch junior in support Hawaii State LGBTQ plus commission. Mike Golojuch senior. Oh, I'm sorry.

I got a different GM.

Sorry. Wrong one. 736.

He's a great guy too if you ask him.

Okay. Okay. Go ahead. Ask a question.

You're still with the Hawaii Water Service right?

Yes.

I think that's really important and good to have somebody who knows what working with licensed water carriers is in the roles, especially when it comes to wastewater. So I wanted to note that that that experience and that background is gonna be very helpful. I think

Oh definitely. You know, with over thirty years in the business and my role prior to I worked on all the different islands. I worked at several wastewater treatment plants. I started off my career at the city and county of Honolulu and the Honolulu Wastewater Treatment Plant. And so with that, the experience that I've gained and everything, I definitely will be able to help out the operators, up and coming operators and making sure that we treat the sewage to where we can get a high quality effluent.

That will also play around with the water drinking side because it goes directly to the aquifer.

Yep. That glad we ought to touch upon that because that was the kind of institutional knowledge that we very

We need. Thank you very much.

Thanks, chair.

So on behalf of GM736, we have Department of Health in support, Environmental Agent Health Administration.

Morning, chair, vice chairs, members of the committee. I'm John Nagato, Department of Health Wastewater Branch. The department stands on its quintessentially strong support of John Kawamura.

Thank you very much. Anybody else wishing to testify in GM736? Okay. Members, any other questions? Okay.

Moving on. DM is gonna be at the end of the calendar now that I have a full slate, almost full slate. And I apologize, GM732 for Chrissy Doyle, Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission for term to expire 06/30/2030. Chrissy Doyle, please come on up and let us know why it is you wanna serve in the commission.

Aloha chair San Buenaventura, members of the committee. Mahalo for the opportunity to be here today.

You need to identify yourself.

My name is Chrissy Kiamoluhia Doyle. Terrific. And I am honored to be nominated to serve on the Hawaii State LGBTQ plus commission representing the island of Oahu. My Hokai has brought me to a place where I feel a deep sense of Kuleana to give back to Hawaii, a place that has allowed me to live fully and authentically.

In my work with the Hawaii State Department of Education, I support school improvement efforts across all 15 complex areas focused on increasing student achievement, providing enrichment opportunities that support the whole child, and ensuring our schools are safe and supportive environments for learning.

If confirmed, I understand this role as an advisory one, and I will be I will approach it with humility, integrity, and a commitment to ensuring that community perspectives are heard and respected in so in support of informed decision making. Mahalo for your time and your consideration.

K. Thank you very much. K. In support of GM732, we have Michael Golojuch Junior in support. Michael, are you present on Zoom?

Please proceed.

Good afternoon. Michael Golojuch Jr, he/him pronouns. I am vice chair of the Hawaii State LGBTQ plus commission, and it is my honor to be testifying here today in full support for Chrissy Doyle to be one of our next commissioners starting July 1. We look forward to working with her. She brings a unique perspective and lived experience that we are desperately need on the commission.

And I know I speak on behalf of the rest of my commissioners when we say we look forward to working with her as we bring forth the the full forth requirements of our statutory re requirements for the commission. So we encourage you to support her and pass her, and we look forward to working with her come July.

K. Thank you very much. Next, we have Michael Golojuch senior in support. Oreen Padilla in support. Melissa Yamaguchi in support.

Brandon Boonag in support. Yvonne Lau in support. Kara Imai in support. Danielle Himalayana in support. Ilian Nakagawa in support.

Danielle Bass. Is Danielle Bass present in support? Okay. Lianne Ayun Iwamura in support. Anybody else wishing to testify on GM732?

Members, any questions?

I'll give this nominee a serious high five.

There you go. Yeah. Thank you so much for being willing to serve.

Thank you so much.

Okay. Are we ready for decision making? Thank you very much. So vice chair.

Ready. Sorry. It's all

For GM539, Jody Hashimoto, Health Planning Council, Honolulu County Subariat. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Noting the president's all members of the community that

No, Fevella's not

I'm sorry.

I know that.

Chair. Give me one minute. Just a second. Noting the president's all members except Senator Fevella. Are there any WRs or no?

Seeing none, your recommendation is awesomely adopted.

Thank you very much. GM556. Mary Pat Waterhouse, State Council of Mental Health. Our term to expire 06/03/2026. Chair's recommendation is to also advise and consent.

Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Recommendation 556 to advise and consent. Noting the previously excused members, any WRs or notes? Seeing none, the recommendation is adopted.

For GM 564, juvenile justice state Advisory Council, Sean Kanai Ealpune. For term to expire 06/30/2029. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Recommendation 564 is to advise the consent, noting the previously excused member. Any WRs or no? Seeing none, recommendation is adopted.

For GM732, Hawaii state lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus commission, Chrissy Doyle, for turn to expire 06/30/2030. Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Recommendation of 732 is advise and consent. Noting the previously excused member, any WRs or no? Seeing none, recommendation is adopted.

For GM736, board of certification of operating personnel and wastewater treatment, John Kawamura, board turn to expire. 06/30/2030, chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Any comments, questions, concerns? Seeing none, vice chair for the vote.

Okay. Recommendation 736 is to advise and consent. Noting the previously excused member. Any WRs and no? Seeing none, your recommendation is adopted.

And with that, we are adjourned.