Merit Institute Merit

The Hawaii Government Transparency & Performance Act (HI-GT&P)

Hawaii state companion to GT&P. Strengthens the Uniform Information Practices Act, inspector-general independence, and extends state-law whistleblower rewards under HRS Chapter 661 (Hawaii False Claims Act).

THE HAWAII GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY & PERFORMANCE ACT (HI-GT&P)

Vehicle: State passage. Hawaii State Legislature, regular session. Primary referral to House / Senate Judiciary / Labor and Government Operations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE

This Act may be cited as the “Hawaii Government Transparency & Performance Act (HI-GT&P).”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT

The Legislature finds that the Uniform Information Practices Act operates under HRS Chapter 92F; that the Office of the Auditor operates under HRS Chapter 23; and that the Hawaii False Claims Act, HRS Chapter 661 Part II, authorizes qui tam relators. This Act extends these frameworks consistent with collective bargaining and merit-system protections under HRS Chapters 76 and 89.

TITLE I — DEFINITIONS & COORDINATION WITH HAWAII LAW

Sec. 101. Definitions

  1. (a) “UIPA” means the Uniform Information Practices Act, HRS Chapter 92F.
  2. (b) “HIFCA” means the Hawaii False Claims Act, HRS Chapter 661 Part II.
  3. (c) “State performance data” means outcome measures published by State agencies.

Sec. 102. Coordination with Existing Hawaii Law

  1. (a) Consistent with:
  • HRS Chapter 92F (UIPA).
  • HRS Chapter 661 Part II (HIFCA).
  • HRS Chapter 378-61 et seq. (Whistleblowers’ Protection Act).
  • HRS Chapters 76, 89 (merit system, collective bargaining).

TITLE II — STATE PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

Sec. 201. Dashboard

  1. (a) The Department of Budget and Finance shall publish a Hawaii Performance Dashboard in machine-readable form, updated at least quarterly, crosswalked to Federal FPD.

TITLE III — OPEN RECORDS

Sec. 301. UIPA Strengthening

  1. (a) Reduce response time to 10 business days absent extraordinary circumstances under HRS Chapter 92F.
  2. (b) Mandatory fee waivers for public-interest requesters.
  3. (c) Office of Information Practices expanded authority under HRS Chapter 92F-15.5.

TITLE IV — INSPECTOR-GENERAL INDEPENDENCE

Sec. 401. Inspector-General Protections

  1. (a) Removal for cause only; findings reported to Presiding Officers.
  2. (b) Budgetary and staffing independence for the Office of the Auditor under HRS Chapter 23 and agency inspectors general.

TITLE V — WHISTLEBLOWER AND QUI TAM

Sec. 501. HIFCA Strengthening

  1. (a) Amendments to HRS Chapter 661 Part II to (i) confirm relator share ranges, (ii) strengthen retaliation remedies under HRS Chapter 378-61 et seq., (iii) clarify public-disclosure bar.
  2. (b) Full collective-bargaining protections preserved under HRS Chapter 89.

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION & GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Severability

If any provision is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect the remainder.

Sec. 602. Effective Date

This Act shall take effect on July 1 of the year following enactment.

Canonical federal version: GT&P. Other Hawaii bills: HI-ACSA, HI-MEWRA, HI-AI-Workforce.