Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary

Alright. Welcome, everyone, to the Judiciary Committee. This is our 10AM agenda on governor's message hearing for nominees, appointees. We got a two minute limit on testimony both here on Zoom and in person. And if there's a catastrophic failure on the Zoom side, we'll try again on Tuesday, April 21 at 10:30am, but not in this room.

It'll be in 225. Okay. First up today is governor's message, seven seven fifty, submitting for consideration and confirmation of the commission to promote uniform legislation with the editorial nominee, Tracy Fujita for a term to expire 06/30/2030. First up on 06/07/1950 is Joe Magamine for deputy attorney general for the attorney general's office in support. Nicole Hokowana, CEO for Maui behavior health resources in support.

Alice Lee, Maui Council chair in support. Peter Hamasaki, commission to promote uniform legislation commissioner in support. Bob Trayofuku also a ULC member. I'm sorry, he was a little bit different. The uniform law commission member in support.

Brian Moto incident work. That's everybody who signed up on GM 750. Would anyone else like to testify on to testify on GM 750? Seeing none, let's see. Miss, miss Fujita, are you on Zoom?

Yes. Good morning. If you'd like to make an opening statement, please.

Oh, thank you, Chair Rhodes and Members of the Judiciary Committee. Thank you for considering my nomination to the commission. This is my first opportunity to be appointed to a state commission. So I've been learning a lot just in that process. I've spoken to some members of the commission, and I've learned, quite a bit about what they do. They are incredibly dedicated and hardworking, from from what I understand. So I'm I'm looking forward to, well, if I'm if I'm confirmed, I'm looking forward to, learning a lot on this commission. Thank you.

Thanks very much. Members questions? If not, I have a couple. Do you have one? Yeah.

Go ahead. Go ahead. Send them together.

Yes, Traci. I just was curious what interest interested you or motivated you to get to serve in this position?

Well, my background is mostly legislative law at the county level. I've worked in the Department of Corporation Counsel for about fourteen years and then served another seven years in the Office of Counsel Services. So I'm hoping that that background and expertise will be helpful to the commission.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you, chairman.

Other other questions, members? If not, I did have one on or is there any particular area of the law that you hope to get involved in?

Well, you know, I would definitely kinda take, follow the lead of the other commissioners who have been serving for, you know, for a really long time. But, personally, I'm interested in any of the health care legislation regarding health care being that I am now working at Maui Behavioral Health Resources and, and have been, learning a lot also in in that health care industry, and I see, the need that's out there and the the gaps, unfortunately, that exist.

So health care legislation would be personally interesting to me.

Great. Thank you. Members, if there are no other questions, we'll go ahead and move on. Thank you very much for appearing and we'll be, to hear well, we have one more one more GM to, to address and that is, GM governor's message 778, submitting for consideration and confirmation of the commission on the status of women, gubernatorial nominee Jessica Schaeffer for term to expire 06/30/2030.

First up on GM 778 is Yasmin Chaney, executive director for the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women.

Good morning.

Good morning. Yasmin Chaney for the Commission on the Status of Women. I stand on our written testimony in support of Jess' nomination. I have worked with her intermittently over the past five years, and I have found her to be collaborative, engaging, and diligent in her efforts. And I think she'll be an asset to the commission and our agenda.

Thank you very much.

Thank you. Next up is Erin Kalai Ruiz in support, Kate Randall in support, Christian Chun in support, Jamie Nualo in support, Laurel Reichhardt in support, Brian Aune in support, Sarita Washington in support, Mari or Mary Ishii in support, Sarah Moriarty in support, and Kevin Finnerty in support. That's everyone who signed up for GM 778. Would anyone else like to testify on GM 778 ? Okay.

If not, Members, any question for the testifier who's here? Miss Chaney. If not, let's see. Miss Schafer, if you'd like to come up and make an opening statement. Good morning.

Good morning. Morning, Senators. Thank you for having me here today. I'm grateful to governor Green for the appointment, and I'm here to ask for your support in confirming me to be a commissioner with the Hawaii State Commission on the status of women. I'm excited about working with CSW and bolstering their mission for gender equity and whole free so that all people in Hawaii can rely on the promise of health, safety, opportunity, and progress.

I'm personally and professionally interested in gender equity. I have been in public service and worked on gender equities for most of the last decade. I prosecuted domestic violence cases in Boston. In law school, I worked in a human trafficking clinic. I've investigated allegations of sexual misconduct in higher ed settings, and I spearhead programming to address gender based violence, at University of Hawaii.

And currently, I'm cochairing the University of Hawaii's commission on the status of women. Building on this experience, I hope to make meaningful contributions to the commission's ongoing work. And I thank you for this opportunity to serve the people of Hawaii, and thank you for your time and consideration today.

Thank you. Members' questions? So what is there are there particular areas that you are hoping to be active in as a Member of the commission?

I think my strengths are really in sexual violence, gender based violence, just because of my career. I've worked on that issue extensively, like I said, over the last decade. So I think that's a real strong suit that I bring to the Commission. And I think I have multiple sort of perspectives on the issue. I've worked both in the prevention and education front as well as sort of directly addressing misconduct, whether that's through criminal prosecutions or in higher education institutions through internal investigations.

So I think that's a real strong suit for me, but I really pride myself on being curious, open to learning. I'm excited by CSF's current initiatives to really be data driven. It's decision making. My my goal would be to be open minded and responsive to what that data shows. And I sort of pride myself in my ability to learn new areas and be responsive in a in sort of a studied way.

So I think you basically answered my next question which was gonna be is it is it do you view this as an opportunity to branch out into other areas that this commission on the status of women co workers.

Definitely. I think that's one of the really exciting things about this opportunity is that there's so many different areas of need, and I think it's a a really good opportunity to to roll up your sleeves and do some good work.

Okay. Great. Members, other questions? If not, thank you very much. We'll go ahead and roll right into the decision making if that's okay with everybody.

Thank you so much. First up was a governor's message 750, which was Traci Fujita for a position on the commission to promote uniform legislation expire on 06/30/2030. Our recommendation is to advise and consent. Questions or concerns? If not, sir Gabbard.

On GM 750 Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. [Roll Call] Measure is adopted.

Thank you. Congratulations, and thank you very much for being willing to serve. It's a, it's a very low paying job, and there's a lot of work involved, but we really appreciate your efforts.

Thank you very much.

Next up is GM 778. This is submitted for consideration confirmation of the commission on the status of women gubernatorial nominee, Jessica Schaeffer, her term to expire 6/30/2030. Same recommendation here to advise and consent. Questions or concerns? If not, Senator Gabbard.

On GM 778, Chair's recommendation is to advise and consent. Are there any no votes or reservations? Seeing none, the measure is adopted.

Thank you very much. Congratulations, and thank you be very much for being willing to serve. We really we all really appreciate it. We are adjourned.