Urging The Office Of Information Practices To Clear The Backlog Of Appeals Filed Pursuant To Chapter 92f, Hawaii Revised Statutes, The Uniform Information Practices Act (modified), By January 1, 2023.
Impact
The resolution highlights the essential function of the Uniform Information Practices Act in promoting governmental accountability through transparency. By emphasizing the need to clear the backlog, the resolution seeks to reaffirm the public's right to request and receive access to government records, ensuring the act can fulfill its intended purpose. If implemented effectively, this serves not only to streamline the appeals process but also to bolster citizens' trust in government operations and policies.
Summary
Senate Resolution 157 urges the Office of Information Practices (OIP) in Hawaii to address the significant backlog of appeals that have accumulated under the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), which is crucial for ensuring public access to government records. The backlog arose following the suspension of various statutes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered the OIP's ability to review and determine appeals made by citizens when their requests for information were denied by government agencies. The resolution sets a target date of January 1, 2023, for this backlog to be cleared, emphasizing the importance of restoring the public's right to access information promptly.
Contention
While the resolution itself is largely administrative, it underscores a contentious backdrop relating to governmental transparency and accountability. The backlog of appeals indicates a systemic issue within the OIP that could reflect broader concerns over government efficiency and responsiveness. There might be resistance from certain quarters regarding the resolution's implications for state allocation of resources necessary to meet this ambitious goal of clearing the backlog, as well as debates about what additional legislative or procedural changes may be necessary to prevent future accumulations of appeal cases.
Same As
Urging The Office Of Information Practices To Clear The Backlog Of Appeals Filed Pursuant To Chapter 92f, Hawaii Revised Statutes, The Uniform Information Practices Act (modified), By January 1, 2023.