STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3639

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 833

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 833, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Language Access Advisory Council

G.M. No. 833

CARI UESUGI, for a term to expire 06-30-2020,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Cari Uesugi to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Language Access Advisory Council.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Cari Uesugi from the Office of Language Access and four individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Uesugi is presently the Patient Relations Advocate at the Maui Memorial Medical Center and has previous work experience as a Patient Relations Advocate for The Queen's Medical Center and Staff Supervisor and Therapist at Child and Family Services.  According to testimony, Ms. Uesugi has developed an understanding of the need for language access in the health care setting and has been instrumental in developing and implementing language access plans at Maui Memorial Medical Center and The Queen's Medical Center.  She also collaborated with government agencies and community organizations to create and support a professional medical interpreters' training program at the University of Hawaii Maui College.  In her personal statement, Ms. Uesugi indicated that she hopes her experience of working with diverse communities and in the medical field can lead to advocating for limited English proficiency consumers to receive meaningful access to services, programs, and activities within their communities.  Your Committee therefore finds that Ms. Uesugi's professional experience, as well as her interest in language access policies, will be great assets to the Language Access Advisory Council.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health 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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair