SSCR2008

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2008

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: GOV. MSG. NO. 531

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 531, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of:

Deputy Director, Department of Budget and Finance

G.M. No. 531

SABRINA NASIR,

for a term to expire 12-07-2026,

begs leave to report as follows:

Your Committee reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by Ms. Sabrina Nasir for service as the Deputy Director of the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Nasir from the Office of the Governor; Department of Transportation; Department of Public Safety; Department of Human Resources Development; Department of Law Enforcement; Department of Defense; Department of Agriculture; Department of Taxation; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Department of Human Services; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Department of Health; Office of Enterprise Technology Services; Employees' Retirement System; Hawaii Public Housing Authority; Stadium Authority; Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Hawai`i Friends of Civil Rights; Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers; Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council; Milun Hawaii; Hawaii Good Food Alliance; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters; One Shared Future; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received testimony from one individual in opposition to the nomination for the appointment of Ms. Nasir.

Prior to her nomination and commencement of work as the Deputy Director of Budget and Finance in December 2022, Ms. Nasir served in the administration of Governor David Ige as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Governor. Her prior government experience includes working for the United States Census Bureau as a Restricted Data Center Researcher under special sworn status; for the Hawaii Department of Transportation Harbors Division as a Project Manager; and for the Hawaii Senate Committee on Ways and Means in roles having progressively increasing levels of responsibility, first as a Budget Analyst, then Capital Improvements Program Specialist, and ultimately Budget Chief. Ms. Nasir also has experience in the non-profit and academic sectors. She established the East-West Center's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and served as the institution's Title IX Coordinator, in addition to having worked as a Coordinator for its Indo-Pacific Perceptions of Messaging Project. She also worked for The Legal Clinic as a contracted Project Specialist. In the sphere of higher education, Ms. Nasir worked for the University of California at Irvine as a Researcher and for the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a College Outreach Specialist.

Ms. Nasir has earned the respect and esteem of numerous current and former colleagues and community members, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive testimony submitted on her behalf. Colleagues highlighted her dedication to excellence, commitment as a public servant, deep and nuanced understanding of state budget and policy issues, and competence in a variety of substantive areas, including advanced statistical analysis skills and expertise in creating data collection and management systems. They also noted her keen intelligence, integrity, impeccable work ethic, humility, patience, and skill in communicating large amounts of complex material to other persons, and generosity with her time. Your Committee also notes that despite having a busy career and demanding work schedule, Ms. Nasir has committed personal time to work for the betterment of the State by volunteering with The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Coalition on Immigrant Rights, and Mana Maoli. Additionally, your Committee notes that Ms. Nasir has furthered her education over the years. Subsequent to graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley, she went on to obtain two Master's degrees and a Ph.D. that span the fields of globalization, development, demographic analysis, and sociology.

Your Committee notes from Ms. Nasir's personal statement that she shares the vision of the Director of Budget and Finance to accomplish three key goals: (1) protect the State's credit and financial well-being; (2) improve transparency, communication, and metrics; and (3) improve the effectiveness and efficiency of departmental operations. Ms. Nasir identified the modernization of the Department's financial management system as the most ambitious of these overarching goals, noting that the modernization will facilitate the accomplishment of related objectives, have positive impacts statewide, and greatly improve the Department's ability to effectively monitor, plan, and allocate resources. Ms. Nasir noted that her extensive research and academic experience has given her the ability to systematically analyze information and make data-driven decisions. Your Committee notes that this skill is particularly important for a person serving as Deputy Director of Budget and Finance, as the role regularly requires decision-making that involves allocating limited resources to many compelling yet competing needs. Your Committee believes, based on Ms. Nasir's education, work experience, and demonstrated sincerity and commitment to the people of Hawaii and the health of the State's finances, that she possesses the necessary qualifications to serve as Deputy Director of the Department of Budget and Finance.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means 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 Ways and Means,

____________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair