Office of Information Practices

Here is the Office of Information Practices’ summary of significant bills that it tracked during the legislative session, which ended on May 1, 2014:

SB 2249, SD 1, HD 1:  Conforms the level of detail required in a public meeting agenda for the proposed adoption, amendment, or repeal of administrative rules to the level of detail required by the rule-making standards provided in HRS Chapter 91, rather than the general Sunshine Law standard.  The Governor signed the bill into law as Act 68 on April 30, 2014, so it is now in effect.

SB 2881, SD 1: To repeal the sunset provision for the UIPA provision regarding duplicative requests by the same requester, which was originally passed in response to a deluge of “birther” requests.  SB 2881, SD 1 died in the House Judiciary Committee.  Therefore, agencies should be aware that after July 1, 2014, the repeat requester provision found in HRS Section 92F-11(b) will be repealed and agencies must respond to duplicate requests from the same requester.

SB 2591, SD 1, HD 1, CD 1:  Requires additional detail and updating of the annual report regarding police misconduct and the retention of disciplinary records for at least 18 months after the final annual report of an incident.  Retains the UIPA language found in HRS Section 92F-14(b)(4)((B)(v) permitting disclosure of information concerning a police officer’s discharge, with an amendment providing that prior to disclosure, at least 90 days must have elapsed after issuance of a decision to discharge a police officer.  The new law will take effect upon its approval.

HB 2139, HD 1, SD 1, CD 1:  Amends the Sunshine Law to permit an unlimited number of county councilmembers to discuss board business, no more than once a month, as guests at a public meeting in Hawaii of another board or community group, without having to file an agenda or accept public testimony at the meeting.  All other requirements for Sunshine Law meetings and limited meetings remain in effect, including requirements to provide six days’ advance notice, take minutes, and videotape the guest meetings.  Additionally, if the host group is a Sunshine Law board, then the host group must comply with the notice, agenda, testimony, minutes, and all other Sunshine Law requirements.  The new law will take effect upon approval and will sunset on June 30, 2016.

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