STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1641

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, 653

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652, and 653, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

Hawai'i Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances

 

G.M. No. 647

CHAD KOYANAGI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 648

CHAD KOYANAGI,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 649

CASHMIRE LOPEZ,

for a term to expire 6-30-2015;

 

G.M. No. 650

CASHMIRE LOPEZ,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019;

 

G.M. No. 651

EDWARD MERSEREAU,

for a term to expire 6-30-2017;

 

G.M. No. 652

LORI FERREIRA,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019; and

 

G.M. No. 653

HEATHER LUSK,

for a term to expire 6-30-2019,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal histories, resumes, and statements submitted by the nominees and finds Chad Koyanagi, Cashmire Lopez, Edward Mersereau, Lori Ferreira, and Heather Lusk to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances.

 

CHAD KOYANAGI

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Chad Koyanagi from the Department of Health.

 

     Mr. Koyanagi is an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.  He earned a Doctor of Medicine from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College.  He is also certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, allowing him to provide his expertise in psychiatry to the Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division; Helping Hands Hawaii's Pathways to Housing Team; Institute for Human Services; Action with Aloha; Castle Medical Center; and Molokai General Hospital.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Koyanagi's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify him for appointment and reappointment to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances (Commission).

 

CASHMIRE LOPEZ

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Cashmire Lopez from the Department of Health.

 

     Ms. Lopez is currently a Registered Nurse for the Hawaii District Health Office in the Department of Health.  She earned a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Hawaii.  She is also a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for the Kauai and Hawaii police departments, providing sex assault medical-legal examinations and collecting evidence of sexual assault.  As a public health nurse, she works collaboratively with the Department of Health medical programs and other public and private health and social services agencies in the community to effect positive changes in the community for Hawaii residents in the areas of wellness, health maintenance, and illness prevention.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Lopez's professional experience, background, and commitment to public service qualify her for appointment and reappointment to the Commission.

 

EDWARD MERSEREAU

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Edward Mersereau from the Department of Health; National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter; and one individual.

 

     Mr. Mersereau is currently the Executive Director and Owner of Action with Aloha, LLC, which provides a wide range of therapeutic and social work services to a variety of populations, including assessment, case management, consultation, and counseling.  He is also an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work and a Preceptor for the Navy Substance Abuse Program at Pearl Harbor.  Mr. Mersereau received a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Hawaii.  Furthermore, he has worked in the substance abuse treatment field for over twenty-five years and has indicated in his personal statement that effective interventions require effective partnerships as it relates to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders in the State.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Mersereau's over twenty-five years of experience in counseling and clinical social work practice, as well as his commitment to public service, will be great assets to the Commission.

 

LORI FERREIRA

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Lori Ferreira from the Department of Health.

 

     Ms. Ferreira is a faculty member and licensed mental health counselor at Kapiolani Community College.  As a licensed mental health counselor, she provides consultation and training for faculty and staff on issues related to mental health conditions.  She earned a Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Chaminade University.  Her experience with the Kapiolani Community College population provides her with insights into the college-age demographic as it relates to mental health.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Ferreira's expertise in community counseling, counselor education and supervision, and crisis management will be great assets to the Commission.

 

HEATHER LUSK

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Heather Lusk from the Department of Health and five individuals.

 

     Ms. Lusk, who currently chairs the Commission, is the Executive Director for The CHOW (Community Health Outreach Work) Project, where she develops, coordinates, and implements HIV and viral hepatitis prevention activities, syringe exchange, health education and outreach efforts, drug treatment referrals, and other activities.  She is currently a candidate in the Master's degree in Social Work program at Hawaii Pacific University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Michigan State University.  Previously, she was the Adult Viral Hepatitis Coordinator for the Department of Health, where she developed and implemented Hawaii viral hepatitis prevention programs.

 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Lusk's past experiences in disease prevention and education, as well as her outstanding leadership capabilities, will continue to be great assets to the Commission.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Health 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 Health,

 

 

 

____________________________

JOSH GREEN, Chair