2006 Indiana Code - CHAPTER 19. CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTION HISTORY AND OTHER ADOPTION RECORDS

IC 31-19-19
     Chapter 19. Confidentiality Requirements for Adoption History and Other Adoption Records

IC 31-19-19-1
Court files and records
    31-19-19-1 Sec. 1. (a) The following items are confidential:
        (1) A petition for adoption.
        (2) Reports of the investigation made under IC 31-19-8-5 (or IC 31-3-1-4 before its repeal).
        (3) All other papers filed in connection with a petition for adoption.
        (4) The record of evidence of the hearing.
        (5) The decree made and entered by the court, including decrees in foreign adoptions filed under IC 31-19-28 (or IC 31-3-1-10 before its repeal).
    (b) The files and records of the court pertaining to the adoption proceedings:
        (1) shall be kept in the custody of the clerk of the court; and
        (2) are not open to inspection, except as provided in IC 31-19-13-2(2).
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-19-2
Agency files and records
    31-19-19-2 Sec. 2. (a) All files and records pertaining to the adoption proceedings in:
        (1) the county office of family and children;
        (2) the department; or
        (3) any of the licensed child placing agencies;
are confidential and open to inspection only as provided in IC 31-19-13-2(2), IC 31-19-17, or IC 31-19-25.
    (b) The files and records described in subsection (a), including investigation records under IC 31-19-8-5 (or IC 31-3-1-4 before its repeal):
        (1) are open to the inspection of the court hearing the petition for adoption; and
        (2) on order of the court, may be:
            (A) introduced into evidence; and
            (B) made a part of the record;
        in the adoption proceeding.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.197-1997, SEC.25; P.L.100-2005, SEC.6; P.L.145-2006, SEC.254.

IC 31-19-19-3
Adoption history information
    31-19-19-3 Sec. 3. Notwithstanding any other law, the information located in the adoption history may not be disclosed under:
        (1) IC 5-14-3; or         (2) any freedom of information:
            (A) legislation;
            (B) rules; or
            (C) practice.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.

IC 31-19-19-4
Confidentiality of adoption papers, records, and information; disclosure procedures
    31-19-19-4 Sec. 4. All papers, records, and information pertaining to the adoption, whether part of:
        (1) the permanent record of the court; or
        (2) a file in:
            (A) the division of vital records;
            (B) the department or county office of family and children;
            (C) a licensed child placing agency; or
            (D) a professional health care provider (as defined in IC 34-6-2-117);
are confidential and may be disclosed only in accordance with IC 31-19-17, this chapter, or IC 31-19-25.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11. Amended by P.L.1-1998, SEC.159; P.L.100-2005, SEC.7; P.L.145-2006, SEC.255.

IC 31-19-19-5
Disclosure of confidential information; offense; discharge from public office
    31-19-19-5 Sec. 5. (a) An employer or any person administering adoption records who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally:
        (1) discloses any confidential information relating to any adoption except as provided in:
            (A) this chapter or IC 31-19-20 through IC 31-19-24; or
            (B) IC 31-19-25; or
        (2) allows an employee to disclose any confidential information relating to any adoption except as provided in this chapter;
commits a Class A misdemeanor.
    (b) If a public employee commits a violation described in subsection (a), the violation is cause for discharge.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.11.