STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2877

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: GOV. MSG. NOS. 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, and 196, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

State Council on Developmental Disabilities

G.M. No. 187

MARGARET M. BAXTER,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

G.M. No. 188

DAVID F. FRAY,

for a term to expire 06-30-04;

G.M. No. 189

DAVID F. FRAY,

for a term to expire 06-30-08;

G.M. No. 190

PAUL K. HIGA,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

G.M. No. 191

JOHN L. NOLAND,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

G.M. No. 192

DEBORAH J. RIVERS,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

G.M. No. 193

HELEN SMALLEY-BOWER,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

 

 

G.M. No. 194

CHARLENE N. TARR,

for a term to expire 06-30-07;

G.M. No. 195

PAUL S. VARGAS, JR.,

for a term to expire 06-30-07; and

G.M. No. 196

JONNA ZANE, Ph.D.,

for a term to expire 06-30-07,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, résumés, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds the nominees to have the necessary qualifications to be appointed to the position of nomination.

Testimony in support of Margaret M. Baxter was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Baxter is a parent of two sons with developmental disabilities and thus represents a parent member of the Council. Ms. Baxter is a current member of the Council and is an active member of her community through her involvement with Special Olympics, Waianae Coast Coalition, Persons with Disabilities Ministry, Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board, and the Special Parent Information Network.

Testimony in support of David M. Fray was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Health, The Arc in Hawaii, and from James and Margaret Proffitt. Dr. Fray holds a DDS degree in dental surgery, and a MBA in Health Care Administration. He currently serves as the Chief of the Developmental Disabilities (DD) Division at the Department of Health (DOH), where he is responsible for the administration of the Division, community-based programs, certification of adult foster homes and DD domiciliary homes for individuals with DD; quality improvement; implementation of self-determination; and compliance with Felix Consent Decree and Makin Settlement Agreement. Dr. Fray's nomination is for two consecutive terms.

Testimony in support of Paul K. Higa was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Higa holds a BA degree from the University of Maryland and presently serves as the Department of Human Services (DHS) MedQUEST representative on the Council on Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Higa has over twenty-three years of experience at DHS, and has extensive experience in developing Medicaid programs, policies, and procedures.

Testimony in support of John L. Noland was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Mr. Noland has a BA and MA degree in Psychology, specializing in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, from the University of Hawaii. He is presently the Assistant Administrator for DHS, Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind Division.

Testimony in support of Deborah J. Rivers was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Renee Furuyama of the National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter, Joel Fischer, a professor of Social Work at the University of Hawaii, Margaret Proffit, Laurie Meech, and Lita Hickey. Ms. Rivers, who attended Kapiolani Community College, is a self-advocate and an active member in the disability community. She presently serves on the Council's Community Supports Committee and was formerly a member of the DD Council, the Patient Protection Committee for the Hawaii State Hospital, and a past board president of the Mental Health Association.

Testimony in support of Helen Smalley-Bower was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Ms. Smalley-Bower represents a consumer parent and is presently a member of the Council's Health and Homes Committee. Ms. Smalley-Bower is also active in her community through her participation in the Disability and Sexuality Committee; the Governor-appointed Reproductive Rights Committee; Hawaii State Library for the Blind and Physically Challenged; and the DOH, DD Division's Waiver Policy Advisory Committee.

Testimony in support of Charlene N. Tarr was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Jan Kemp, and Russell Suzuki. Mr. Tarr holds a B.Ed. from the University of Hawaii and presently is a member of the Council's Employment and Education Committee. In addition to being a family member of an individual with DD, Ms. Tarr has additional experience through her employment with the Department of Education, and past employment with Arc in Hawaii and the DOH, Waimano Training School and Hospital.

Testimony in support of Paul S. Vargas, Jr., was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Maui Developmental Disabilities Committee. Mr. Vargas attended Baldwin High School and presently serves on the Council's Employment and Education Committee. He is the immediate past Chair of the Maui Developmental Disabilities Committee, an advocate for employing individuals with DD, and an example for others to achieve self-sufficiency.

Testimony in support of Jonna Zane was received from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Betsy deBos, Ana Gamble, and Dorothy Craven. Dr. Zane holds BS and MS degrees in Speech Pathology and Audiology, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration. She is currently the Speech Pathologist for the Central District of the Department of Education. Dr. Zane is a parent of an individual with DD, and presently serves on the Council's Employment and Education Committee.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair