Report Title:

State Statistics and Data; State Internet Website

Description:

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to create a single Internet website comprised of data and information from all government agencies. Requires the information to be easily accessible and manipulated for analysis. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

426

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to economic development.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the "New Economy" is a knowledge- and idea-based economy where the key to higher standards of living and job creation is the extent to which innovative ideas and technologies are embedded in services, products, and manufacturing processes. Its characteristics include an increase in knowledge-based jobs, higher levels of entrepreneurial dynamism and competition, faster times to market, increased product and service diversity, constant technological innovation, globalization, the replacement of hierarchical organization structures with networked learning organizations, and relentless economic churning. As Hawaii embarks on its aggressive economic agenda, it is imperative that our entrepreneurs, investors, and business have the necessary tools to prosper in the New Economy.

The legislature further finds now more than ever that Hawaii's public policies and legislative initiatives must foster not only a positive business climate, but provide the necessary building blocks for competing in the New Economy. Workforce development, investing in our public schools and the University of Hawaii, creation of business incentives to further investment in high-technology companies, ensuring availability of investment capital, and modernizing government operations are essential acts that need to be further developed. The result will be an economic infrastructure and culture that breeds innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, creativity, and knowledge-based jobs that ultimately lead to higher wages, enhanced quality of life, and economic prosperity for Hawaii. The purpose of this Act is to create a single state Internet website to provide specific information about the State, including economic, demographic, environmental, and social science data from government agencies and other jurisdictions that will be easily accessed and disseminated and that will support further development of our New Economy.

SECTION 2. Section 201-13.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§201-13.8 Data or information collection. (a) The director, in consultation and cooperation with all affected governmental agencies, shall [assess]:

(1) Assess the need for statistics and other information as to the number, characteristics, needs, and movement of people into, out of, or within Hawaii, including residents, migrants, and visitors, and such other information as the director may deem necessary, for the purposes of sound economic research and analysis[.]; and

(2) Inventory all economic, demographic, environmental, and social science data available from all government agencies and relevant data from other jurisdictions, including, to the extent practicable, data and indices related to the high technology industry.

The director shall be responsible for collecting[,] and analyzing[, and disseminating such information to governmental agencies on a timely basis,] the information and is authorized to use any appropriate method to collect the information, including but not limited to conducting an entry and exit census or survey of all individuals entering, leaving, or living within the State, and obtaining data or information acquired by other agencies, both public and private.

(b) The department shall disseminate the information collected and analyzed under subsection (a) to government agencies and the public on a timely basis. The department shall create an Internet website for government agencies and the public to serve as a single point of access to the data gathered under this section. The data shall be in a format that is easily accessible and manipulated to conduct comparisons, cross-references, and comprehensive analysis. All governmental agencies shall cooperate with and assist the director to implement this section[.], including ensuring that the data gathered by governmental agencies may be accessed through the Internet website.

[(b)] (c) To the extent that it is identifiable to an individual, information obtained by the department or its agents through surveys, questionnaires, or other information gathering efforts shall be held confidential and not disclosed or opened to public inspection, except that such information may be shared with other government agencies as provided in section 92F-19.

[(c)] (d) Public disclosure of information gathered by the department could place businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Consequently, where disclosure would result in the impairment of the department's ability to obtain such information and the frustration of a legitimate government function, the department may withhold from public disclosure competitively sensitive information including:

(1) Completed survey and questionnaire forms;

(2) Coding sheets; and

(3) Database records of such information.

[(d)] (e) The director may adopt necessary rules pursuant to chapter 91, to administer this section."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.