H.B. 859 Summary

• Establishes a full-time Chief Data Officer position within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, appointed by and reporting to the Chief Information Officer.

• Chief Data Officer responsibilities include developing and managing statewide data policies and standards, facilitating data sharing between state agencies as permitted by law, and modernizing state computer and data systems.

• Requires each executive branch department to make appropriate and existing electronic data sets electronically available to the public through the state's open data portal at data.hawaii.gov, removing the previous "reasonable efforts" standard.

• Maintains exemptions for proprietary information, licensed third-party data without consent, and personally identifiable information protected by law or contract.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to establish the Chief Data Officer position, effective July 1, 2021.