STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1769

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.C.R. No. 196
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.C.R.
No. 196 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF
     INFORMATION PRACTICES TO COORDINATE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS
     OF CURRENT PROTECTIONS OF THE PRIVACY OF PERSONAL
     INFORMATION AND TO SUBMIT PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO THE 2000
     LEGISLATIVE SESSION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this Concurrent Resolution is to request the
Office of Information Practices to coordinate an analysis of
current protections of the privacy of personal information.

     The Concurrent Resolution also requests the Office of
Information Practices to examine ways in which personal
information is currently used, what protections are desirable,
and to submit proposals to the Legislature which address the
concerns of consumers, law enforcement professionals, and
businesses.

     Your Committee finds that the multi-billion dollar trade in
personal information is one of the fastest growing industries in
the world.  The rapid purchase and sale of such information is
often times beyond the comprehension or control of average
citizens who have little or no opportunity to review or restrict
its dissemination.

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1769
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     Whereas certain types of information are vital to the
survival of a healthy and productive economy, that need must be
balanced with the privacy needs of our community as provided
under Article I, section 6 of the Hawaii Constitution which
reads:  "the right of the people to privacy is recognized and
shall not be infringed without the showing of a compelling state
interest."

     Accordingly, before your Committee acts upon legislation
that attempts to regulate this uncharted and untested area of the
law, prudence dictates that the Office of Information Practices
first provide the Legislature with the information necessary to
craft legislation that respects and promotes the interests of all
interested parties.

     Your Committee received favorable testimony from the Office
of Information Practices and the Hawaii Insurers Council.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 196,
and recommends its adoption.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Judiciary,



                                   ______________________________
                                   AVERY B. CHUMBLEY, Co-Chair



                                   ______________________________
                                   MATTHEW M. MATSUNAGA, Co-Chair


 
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