New legislation would allow Hawaii Tourism Authority to withhold information from the public

Hawaii Senate committee is scheduled to consider legislation that would allow the Hawaii Tourism Authority to withhold information from the public.

The measure would allow the agency to hold back information that allegedly could place businesses at a competitive disadvantage or impair the authority’s ability to gather data.

It also would allow the authority’s governing board to meet behind closed doors allegedly in order to obtain information necessary to protect Hawaii’s competitive advantage as a visitor destination.

The state Office of Information Practices has said the bill’s language should be more narrow.

It will be heard by the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee Tuesday.