Report Title:

OIP;

Description:

Makes office of information practices a permanent agency and appropriates funds.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2286

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to the office of information practices.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the office of information practices plays a vital role in ensuring public access to government documents, while balancing the need to protect privacy rights. Despite significant budget cuts, the office of information practices continues to serve government agencies and the public by responding to requests for assistance, guidance and opinions; adopting rules; monitoring Uniform Information Practices Act related litigation; and educating by means of presentations, publications, and its website. In addition, the office of information practices has taken on the additional responsibility of administering the open meetings law and the responsibility for rulemaking and educational activities for medical privacy.

The legislature further finds that the large-scale commercial and governmental use of database technology, the growth of home computing, and the increasing use of the Internet require the development of appropriate information policies and practices to address concerns about individual privacy and the commercial use of private information. Government agencies have a strong need for prompt assistance from the office of information practices when designing their computer informational systems to avoid the large expense of changing their systems later to meet the law's requirements. Individuals also have a growing need for assistance from the office of information practices, and quick response to individual requests can potentially prevent the costs incurred by later lawsuits against government agencies regarding information disclosures. The legislature finds that additional resources are necessary to enable the office of information practices to respond adequately to requests for assistance as required by law. The purpose of this Act is to make the office of information practices a permanent agency and to appropriate funds to the office of information practices.

SECTION 2. Section 92F-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) There is established [a temporary] an office of information practices for a special purpose within the office of the lieutenant governor for administrative purposes."

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003, for the office of information practices.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the office of information practices for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.

INTRODUCED BY:

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