STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1493

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 134

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 134, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit the Governor or mayors from suspending requests for public records or vital records or statistics during a declared state of emergency.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Common Cause Hawaii, Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter, and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Governor suspended the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) in its entirety for two and a half months, and the deadlines under the UIPA indefinitely. Your Committee further finds that access to information is critical to ensure transparency and allow citizens to hold the government accountable. Your Committee recognizes that while it is important for the government to have flexibility during a state of emergency, there needs to be checks in place to prevent the overreach of those powers.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 134, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair