STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1912

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 611, 612, 613, 614, 700, 701

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 611, 612, 613, 614, 700, and 701, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

 

Statewide Council on Independent Living

 

G.M. No. 611

LILLIAN GONZALES BROWN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2008;

 

G.M. No. 612

BRIAN KESSLER,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 

G.M. No. 613

SANDRA K. MEEHAN,

for a term to expire 6-30-2008;

 

G.M. No. 614

MARC ANTOINE MORTIMER,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009;

 

G.M. No. 700

LOUISE R. HORIO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2008; and

 

G.M. No. 701

NATHAN E. SAY,

for a term to expire 6-30-2010,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees, and finds Lillian Gonzales Brown, Brian Kessler, Sandra K. Meehan, Marc Antoine Mortimer, Louise R. Horio, and Nathan E. Say to have the necessary qualifications to be nominated to the Statewide Council on Independent Living (Council).

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Lillian Gonzales Brown's nomination from the Department of Human Services and the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii.

 

     Ms. Brown is a freelance disability educator and consultant and the founder of the Institute on Disability Culture.  Ms. Brown has conducted training and given presentations on a variety of disability-related topics, staff orientation, and curriculum design and implementation throughout the United States and abroad.  Her prior work experience includes the World Institute On Disability, Kaiser Permanente Hospital-Division of Research, Suicide Prevention of Alameda County, Planned Parenthood of Alameda County, Center for Independent Living of Berkeley, and the University of California at San Francisco Sex and Disability Unit. 

 

     Ms. Brown is a former member of the Disability Action Committee, Las Cruces, New Mexico; St. Mary's Hospital Community Advisory Board, San Francisco; Oakland Mayor's Commission on the Disabled; Community Advisory Committee for Sex Education for Disabled People, Oakland, California; Alameda County Developmental Disability Case Conference Committee; and the Area Board Advisory Committee.  She is a former member of the Board of Directors of Suicide Prevention of Alameda County, and Community Advisory Committee of Planned Parenthood of Alameda County.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Brown has extensive experience in the field of disability studies and independent living as an educator, consultant, lecturer, and trainer.  Your Committee finds that the Council will benefit both from her perspective as a person with a disability and as well as her background in the planning and development of services to enable people with disabilities to lead more independent lives.  For the foregoing reasons, your Committee finds Ms. Brown to be qualified to serve as an individual with a disability representative on the Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Brian Kessler's nomination from the Department of Human Services and one individual.

 

     Mr. Kessler earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Pittsburg and is a MBA/MA in Global Leadership Candidate at Hawaii Pacific University.  He is a Partner with the Grand Prix Association of Hawaii and a Business Development Consultant for Sales & Marketing Strategies.  His prior work experience includes serving as a Business Development Consultant and Founder of Broadbus Technologies in Boston, Vice President of Business Development of Nanosoft Corporation in Chicago, Investment Advisor for International Money Management in Honolulu, an Independent Floor Trader in Sydney, and International Securities Specialist for Dean Witter Reynolds in Boston.

 

     Mr. Kessler has served on numerous Boards of Directors and Committees.  He is the Manoa Representative to the Ala Wai Watershed Association; the Land, Planning, and transportation Chair of the Manoa Neighborhood Board; and a Mayoral appointee to the City and County of Honolulu Child Care Advisory Board.  He is a former member of various committees of the Honolulu Community Media Council-FCC and of the Hawaii Centers for Independent Living, former Chairman of the Board Development Committee and former Co-Chair of the Golf Committee of the Honolulu Theater for Youth, former Resource Development Committee member of Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, among many others.  He is also a member of numerous professional organizations.

 

     Your Committee finds Mr. Kessler to be an accomplished entrepreneur and businessman who will provide the Council with the business prospective of disability issues and the promotion of independent living for persons with disabilities.  Based on his extensive experience and training, your Committee finds Mr. Kessler to be qualified to serve on the Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Sandra K. Meehan's nomination from the Department of Human Services, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, Hawaii Fi-Do Service and Therapy Dogs, and one individual.

 

     Mrs. Meehan earned an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Hawaii and has participated in several workshops on topics including leadership management, culture diversity, and substance abuse.  Mrs. Meehan's work experience includes serving as the Executive Director of the Tri-County Independent Living Center in Utah, Community Advocate for the Association of Independent Living Centers in Utah, and Outreach Coordinator for Hawaii Centers for Independent Living.  From 2005 to March 2006, she was a full-time caregiver for her brother.

 

     Mrs. Meehan is the present Program Administrator of Hawaii Fi-Do Service Dogs and Treasurer of Independent Living Hawaii.  She is the former president of the Association for Independent Living of Utah, a former representative to the National Council on Independent Living, and a former board member of the Utah State Independent Living Council.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mrs. Meehan has vast experience in independent living and developing independent living outreach services and new centers.  It is evident that she has used her personal experience with having a disability to contribute to the advancement of others.  Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Mrs. Meehan to be qualified to serve on the Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Marc Antoine Mortimer's nomination from the Department of Human Services; Developmental Disabilities Board Area 10, Life Quality Assessment Project; Special Olympics Hawaii; and three individuals.

 

     Mr. Mortimer has certifications in Help Desk from the Westside Center for Independent Living, Office Assistant from Southern California Regional Occupational Center, and as a Competent Toastmaster from Toastmasters'.

 

     Mr. Mortimer has been employed as a Life Quality Assessment Visitor for Developmental Disabilities Board Area 10 in Glendale, California; a Social Activity Program Instructor for South Bay Vocational Center; a file clerk for a private law firm; an office assistant for the State Compensation Insurance Fund in Mesa, California; and an Underwriter Support Clerk and Office Support Clerk for an insurance agency.  He was a volunteer computer lab tutor for the Long Beach Public Library and a volunteer computer lab assistant for Easter Seals.  Mr. Mortimer's advocacy experience includes advocating for community service programs for misdemeanor offenders in lieu of fine or imprisonment, promoting assistive technology, and increasing accessibility and maintaining funding for persons with disabilities.  He served as a member of the Social Services Advisory Committee to the Community Services Commission of the City Council of Torrance, California; a member of the Service Employees International Union and United for Quality and Choice; District 49 Toastmasters; Special Olympics Global Messengers Toastmaster Club; and an apprentice member of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Speakers Association.

 

     Your Committee finds Mr. Mortimer to be a person with a disability who strongly supports an individual's right of self‑determination and full participation in the community.  Your Committee notes that he has been effective in advocating on his own behalf and contributed to others by volunteering in organizations that serve people with disabilities.  For the foregoing reasons, your Committee finds Mr. Mortimer to be qualified to serve as an individual with a disability representative on the Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Louise R. Horio's nomination from the Department of Human Services, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, and three individuals.

 

     Ms. Horio earned a Bachelor of Education and a Fifth Year Degree (considered a Master in Education, at the time) from the University of Hawaii, and she has a Professional Certificate in Teaching.

 

     Ms. Horio retired from teaching elementary school after nearly thirty years of service.  She is the President of the Hui Kupuna VIP, a senior group of visually impaired individuals which meets bi-monthly as a support and social group that volunteers for the Domestic Abuse Shelter.  Ms. Horio is also the Chair of Citizens for Fair ADA Ride.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Horio has been a strong advocate for older individuals who are blind.  Based on her experience and training, your Committee finds Ms. Horio to be qualified to serve as an individual with a disability representative on the Council.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Nathan E. Say's nomination from the Department of Human Services, the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii, and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Say is a senior at Brigham Young University Hawaii majoring in History.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Say has been very active in the disability community in Hawaii.  He has written and made several presentations to various groups on disability and culture.

 

     Based on his experience and training, your Committee finds Mr. Say to be qualified to serve as an individual with a disability representative on the Council.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Human Services and Public Housing that are 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 Human Services and Public Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

SUZANNE CHUN OAKLAND, Chair