STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3210

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 422

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fifth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2010

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Labor, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 422, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

 

Hawai'i Labor Relations Board

 

G.M. No. 422

NORMAN KENICHI KATO II,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Norman Kenichi Kato, II to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board.

 

     Testimony in support of the nomination of Norman Kenichi Kato, II was submitted by two private organizations and ten individuals.  Written testimony presented to the Committee may be reviewed on the Legislature's website.

 

     Your Committee finds that Norman Kenichi Kato, II has provided the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) with exceptional legal service as General Counsel for the past eleven years.  Specifically, Mr. Kato has provided legal advice and counsel to the SHOPO Board of Directors, its staff, and its members, which has included arbitrating grievances and representing the union and its members before various agencies, boards, commissions, and courts.

 

     Your Committee also finds that Mr. Kato's intimate familiarity with Hawaii's laws relating to labor and collective bargaining will enable him to provide sound advice and insightful recommendations and analysis to issues facing the Labor Relations Board.  Your Committee further finds that Mr. Kato's skill set, education, experience, and upbringing will allow him to offer the Labor Relations Board with a labor representative perspective that will enable the Board to conduct its hearings and resolve labor disputes in a fair, efficient, and equitable manner as is possible.

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair