§201-13.8  Data or information collection. (a)  The director, in consultation with all affected governmental agencies,shall assess the need for statistics and other information as to the number,characteristics, needs, and movement of people into, out of, or within Hawaii,including residents, migrants, and visitors, and such other information as thedirector may deem necessary, for the purposes of sound economic research andanalysis.  The director shall be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminatingsuch information to governmental agencies on a timely basis, and is authorizedto use any appropriate method to collect the information, including but notlimited to conducting an entry and exit census or survey of all individualsentering, leaving, or living within the State, and obtaining data orinformation acquired by other agencies, both public and private.  Allgovernmental agencies shall cooperate with and assist the director to implementthis section.

(b)  To the extent that it is identifiable toan individual, information obtained by the department or its agents throughsurveys, questionnaires, or other information gathering efforts shall be heldconfidential and not disclosed or opened to public inspection, except that suchinformation may be shared with other government agencies as provided in section92F-19.

(c)  Public disclosure of information gatheredby the department could place businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Consequently, where disclosure would result in the impairment of thedepartment's ability to obtain such information and the frustration of alegitimate government function, the department may withhold from publicdisclosure competitively sensitive information including:

(1)  Completed survey and questionnaire forms;

(2)  Coding sheets; and

(3)  Database records of such information.

(d)  The director may adopt necessary rulespursuant to chapter 91, to administer this section. [L 1987, c 336, pt of §2;am L 1998, c 156, §7]