HI HR31

Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau, in consultation with the Department of the Attorney General, to conduct a study on Hawaii's correctional facility reporting requirements under Section 353C-8.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Directs the study to examine the Department of Public Safety's compliance with disclosure requirements for deaths of correctional facility employees and inmates, which must be reported within forty-eight hours.

Requires the study to analyze how HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) requirements apply to correctional facility death and injury reporting, and compare Hawaii's structure to other states that routinely disclose prisoner deaths.

Mandates the study to investigate whether states that publicly release information on inmate deaths use specific statutes, restrictions, or authorities to avoid HIPAA violations when making such disclosures.

Requires submission of findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2021 Regular Session.