Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2231 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to assure the State Auditor access to student records necessary to audit or evaluate any federal or state supported educational program in a manner that preserves confidentiality of personally identifiable data.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Auditor and the Office of Information Practices. The state Department of Education submitted testimony opposing this measure, and deferring to the testimony of the Attorney General. The state Department of Health submitted comments, deferring to the position of the Attorney General. The Department of the Attorney General did not testify on this bill.

Your Committee finds that this measure will strengthen the Auditor's investigatory power without intruding on affected students' legitimate privacy interests.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2231 and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance.