THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2288

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to require public access to travel reports submitted by state employees, officers, and other representatives of the State who travel on official state business.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 40, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§40-     Travel reports; official state business; public access.  (a)  Any travel report submitted by a state employee, officer, or other representative of any state department or agency, including the judiciary and university of Hawaii, in connection with out-of-state or intra-state travel for purposes of official state business, shall be made available for public review on the comptroller's website in a searchable format; provided that:

     (1)  Any personally identifiable information shall be redacted from the published report;

     (2)  Out-of-state or intra-state travel for purposes of law enforcement operations need only identify the date, points of departure and arrival, and a statement that the travel is for the purposes of law enforcement operations;

     (3)  A state law enforcement agency may delay the reporting of out-of-state or intra-state travel for purposes of law enforcement operations to preserve the confidentiality of an investigation or prosecution until the completion of an investigation or prosecution, or until the law enforcement agency determines that it is no longer necessary to delay disclosure of the travel report;

     (4)  A travel report relating to off-island travel need only be made available on the comptroller's website if the travel was for a non-essential purpose; and

     (5)  A travel report need not be made available on the comptroller's website if the travel was:

          (A)  Necessitated by due process compliance, litigation, prosecution, or a student referral or placement that requires confidentiality of the travel event; or

          (B)  Only intra-island and was made by a member of a board, commission to or from a meeting of that board or commission.

     (b)  For purposes of this section, "other representative of any state department or agency" means a person traveling for a state-related function, using state funds."

     SECTION 3.  In accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution and sections 37-91 and 37-93, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislature has determined that the appropriations contained in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act will cause the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 to be exceeded by $           or       per cent.  This current declaration takes into account general fund appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2024-2025 in Act 164, Regular Session of 2023, and this Act only.  The reasons for exceeding the general fund expenditure ceiling are that:

     (1)  The appropriation made in this Act is necessary to serve the public interest; and

     (2)  The appropriation made in this Act meets the needs addressed by this Act.

     SECTION 4.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2024-2025 to provide digital and searchable public access to the travel reports of state employees, officers, and other representatives of the State for travel that is related to official state business.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 5.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026; provided that section 4 shall take effect on July 1, 2024.

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Accounting and General Services; Comptroller; Travel Reports; Public Access; General Fund Expenditure Ceiling Exceeded; Appropriation

 

Description:

Generally requires that travel reports submitted by state employees, officers, or other representatives of state departments or agencies, in connection with out-of-state or intra-state travel for purposes of official state business, be made available for public review on the Comptroller's website.  Requires any personally identifiable information to be redacted from each published report.  Provides certain exceptions relating to law enforcement, off-island travel, confidentiality, and board and commission meetings.  Appropriates moneys.  Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded.  (SD2)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.