Committee amends and postpones bill to give media access to HPD communications after debate over timing and privacy

Summary

Council committee advanced a committee draft (CD1) of Bill 46, which would require the Honolulu Police Department to release certain incident information to media in a more timely way; the committee accepted amendments on timing and content but postponed final action to work out privacy and operational details.

The Honolulu City Council Public Safety and Economic Committee on Sept. 25 amended and postponed Bill 46, a measure that would require the Honolulu Police Department to provide more timely incident information to news organizations.

The proposed committee draft (CD1) adds a definition for "real‑time emergency alerts," sets content categories for alerts (partial address, incident type, crime classification, general description and responding first‑responder agencies), and directs HPD to work with news organizations on a strategic plan for access. The draft requires that no communication covered by the bill may include personal information that would violate federal or state privacy standards, and revises media eligibility requirements from 10 to 25 years of operation to qualify for access.

Maj…

Committee amends and postpones bill to give media access to HPD communications after debate over timing and privacy

Summary

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