(a) All records of the investigation arising from a complaint filed with the commission shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed to anyone; provided that any factual matters provided to the commission during the intake and investigation of the complaint, including complainant and respondent statements and documents, pre-complaint questionnaires, witness statements for which the witness has not requested confidentiality or for whom the commission has not approved confidentiality pursuant to subsection (c), other documents received from witnesses, and correspondence with parties and witnesses may be disclosed:

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Terms Used In Hawaii Revised Statutes 368-4

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Legislative session: That part of a chamber's daily session in which it considers legislative business (bills, resolutions, and actions related thereto).
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
(1) As may be required by order of a court with jurisdiction in a case arising from a complaint filed with the commission; or
(2) As may be requested by a party in a complaint filed with the commission, if a complainant verifies in writing that the complainant has received a notice of right to sue pursuant to § 368-12 and a civil action has been filed or the right to sue has not expired, or if a respondent verifies in writing that the complainant has filed a civil action.
(b) All records of non-factual matters relating to the investigation and arising from a complaint filed with the commission, including:

(1) Settlement discussions;
(2) Financial records;
(3) Commission attorney communications and work products;
(4) Confidential witness statements; and
(5) Commission investigatory procedures, including but not limited to:

(A) Training and educational discussions between staff;
(B) The case analysis manual;
(C) Procedures and standards used in case analysis;
(D) Investigatory directives;
(E) Investigative plans, strategies, or goals;
(F) Case reviews; and
(G) Investigator notes, impressions, recommendations, and reports;

shall be considered confidential records except as otherwise provided by law.

(c) In making a determination to approve or deny a request that a witness’ identity or statement be kept confidential, the commission shall consider:

(1) The relevance, materiality, and importance of the witness’ statement;
(2) The likelihood that the witness’ statement could not be obtained without approval of a request that the witness’ identity or statement be kept confidential; and
(3) A reasonable and clearly definable fear by the witness that the witness or any other clearly identified person would suffer serious bodily or economic harm, retaliation, or termination of employment, if the witness’ identity or statement were not kept confidential.
(d) The disclosure of records that are not related to the investigation arising from a complaint filed with the commission shall be subject to chapter 92F.
(e) The commission shall maintain complete records of all complaints filed with the commission and shall compile annual statistical data on the number of complaints filed and the status or disposition of those complaints by types of complaints.
(f) As used in this section, a “confidential witness statement” means:

(1) A statement from a person who is not a complainant or respondent to a complaint filed with the commission;
(2) Who requests their identity or statement be kept confidential; and
(3) The commission approves the request for confidentiality pursuant to subsection (c).
(g) The commission shall provide to the governor and the legislature a report of that statistical data compiled pursuant to subsection (e) on an annual basis, not less than thirty days prior to the convening of the legislative session.

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