STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3500

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 659, 660, 661, 662

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 659, 660, 661, and 662, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Correctional Industries Advisory Committee

 

G.M. No. 659

DAVID MATSUURA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 660

THOMAS SING,

for a term to expire 6-30-2016;

 

G.M. No. 661

ANDREI SOTO,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015; and

 

G.M. No. 662

JAMES WATARU,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds David Matsuura, Thomas Sing, Andrei Soto, and James Wataru to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee.

 


DAVID MATSUURA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of David Matsuura from the Department of Public Safety.

 

     From 1998 to 2002 David Matsuura served as a Hawaii State Senator.  Mr. Matsuura is from the Big Island and has considerable business experience in the private sector.  He has served on the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee for four years.  Mr. Matsuura believes in employing inmates and preparing them to transition back to the community.  He has proven his value to the Committee in evaluating and assessing the correctional industries program in order to make improvements.  Mr. Matsuura believes that the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee should collaborate with the Hawaii Paroling Authority to provide employment training for inmates who are near completion of their minimum terms.

 

THOMAS SING

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Thomas Sing from the Department of Public Safety and one individual.

 

     Thomas Sing is presently a member of the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee.  He believes in helping people overcome a troubled life, which he sees as a common element in incarcerated individuals.  Mr. Sing has hired parolees in the printing industry to learn a trade skill and become productive members of society.  His employees who are former inmates are given the full benefits package of insurance and other prerequisites of employment.  As a member of the Commission, he hopes to reduce the prison population and teach parolees a trade in order to reduce recidivism.

 

ANDREI SOTO

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of Andrei Soto from the Department of Public Safety and four individuals.

 

     Andrei Soto has considerable experience as an employment services specialist.  He recently retired from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations where he had experience in workforce development, among other divisions.  He is familiar with the Corrections Industries Program from his work for the Department of Public Safety, first as a Personnel Management Specialist concentrating in the area of personnel classification and then later as a Corrections Education Program Specialist focusing on vocational education and training.  Mr. Soto has provided statewide staff assistance to administrative and branch personnel in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating vocational education and training for adult inmates.  Mr. Soto's contributions to the Correctional Industries Program to employ inmates and prepare them to transition back to the community will be very valuable.

 

JAMES WATARU

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of James Wataru from the Department of Public Safety; Hawaii Fire Fighters Association, Local 1463, IAFF, AFL-CIO; State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers; United Public Workers; Hawaii Government Employees Association; and one individual.

 

     James Wataru currently works for the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) where he is in charge of plumbing at the State Capitol Building.  He also serves on various community boards focusing on foster care.  Mr. Wataru truly believes that given the right circumstances and the right opportunities, the Correctional Industries Program can make a difference and can change lives.  He received his plumbing apprentice training from DAGS, so he believes in the importance of on-the-job training as a rehabilitative and reentry tool for inmates.  He stated in his testimony that he will look into the possibility of using apprenticeship programs at DAGS for Correctional Industries Program purposes.  Being a foster parent for the past twelve years has demonstrated to Mr. Wataru and his family that one person or family can absolutely make a difference in the life of a person thought to be destined for a life of crime and incarceration.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs 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 Public Safety, Government Operations, and Military Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

WILL ESPERO, Chair