STAND. COM. REP. NO. 329-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: H.B. No. 2557
                                     




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Labor and Public Employment, to which was
referred H.B. No. 2557 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
     HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to facilitate the disclosure of
records relating to the administration and enforcement of the
occupational safety and health laws in a manner that will protect
the privacy of individuals, ensure that workers' have safe and
healthful places of employment, preserve the mission of the
department, and preserve scarce state resources for protection of
life and health.

     The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations testified
in support of the bill.

     The intent of the present law is unclear regarding
disclosure of certain records in a civil action arising from
matters mentioned in such records.

     This bill clarifies that all information, except that which
is protected by law such as for privacy, business trade and
business secrets, and witness confidentiality, can be disclosed
after the case has been administratively closed and the
information will not compromise worker safety and health.


 
 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 329-00
                                 Page 2

 
     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Labor and Public Employment that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 2557 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Labor and Public
                                   Employment,



                                   ______________________________
                                   TERRY NUI YOSHINAGA, Chair