Bill > HCR146

This Concurrent Resolution requests the Office of Information Practices (OIP) to assemble a working group to create a recommendation for a new law regarding "deliberative and pre-decisional agency records," which are internal documents created during the decision-making process before a final decision is made. The goal is to find a balance between the public's right to access government information and the need for government officials to discuss policy ideas and tentative decisions openly and frankly without fear of premature public scrutiny. The working group, composed of representatives from public interest groups, government agencies, and the OIP itself, will examine existing laws and practices in Hawaii and other states to develop a consensus on how these sensitive records should be handled under Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA), which governs public access to government records. The OIP Director will then report the working group's findings and recommendations to the State Legislature.