Bill > SR165

This resolution requests the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission (HCRC), the state agency responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, to investigate how existing state laws that protect people from discrimination in areas like jobs, housing, and services apply to decisions made by algorithmic and automated systems. These systems, which can include artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly used in ways that affect these protected areas, but they may unintentionally perpetuate or even worsen discrimination due to biased data or complex processes. The HCRC is asked to assess if current laws are sufficient to address discrimination from these systems, identify any legal or practical difficulties in investigating such cases, consider if new rules or guidance are needed for clarity, explore ways to handle complaints about algorithmic discrimination, and recommend any legislative changes necessary to ensure civil rights protections remain effective in the face of new technologies. The commission is expected to report its findings and any proposed legislation to the Hawaii Legislature by early 2027.