2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17a - Social and Human Services and Resources
Chapter 319 - Department of Children and Families
Section 17a-28 - (Formerly Sec. 17-431). Definitions. Confidentiality and access to records; exceptions. Procedure for aggrieved persons.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Person” means (A) any individual named in a record, maintained by the department, who (i) is presently or at any prior time was a ward of or committed to the commissioner for any reason; (ii) otherwise received services, voluntarily or involuntarily, from the department; or (iii) is presently or was at any prior time the subject of an investigation by the department; (B) a parent whose parental rights have not been terminated or current guardian of an individual described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, if such individual is a minor; or (C) the authorized representative of an individual described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, if such individual is deceased;

(2) “Attorney” means the licensed attorney authorized to assert the confidentiality of or right of access to records of a person;

(3) “Authorized representative” means a parent, guardian, guardian ad litem, attorney, conservator or other individual authorized to assert the confidentiality of or right of access to records of a person;

(4) “Consent” means permission given in writing by a person, such person’s attorney or authorized representative to disclose specified information, within a limited time period, regarding the person to specifically identified individuals or entities;

(5) “Records” means information created or obtained in connection with the department’s child protection activities or other activities related to a child while in the care or custody of the department, including information in the registry of reports to be maintained by the commissioner pursuant to section 17a-101k;

(6) “Disclose” means (A) to provide an oral summary of records maintained by the department to an individual, agency, corporation or organization, or (B) to allow an individual, agency, corporation or organization to review or obtain copies of such records in whole, part or summary form;

(7) “Near fatality” means an act that places a child in serious or critical condition.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1-210, 1-211 or 1-213, records maintained by the department shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed, unless the department receives written consent from the person or as provided in this section, section 17a-101g or section 17a-101k. Any unauthorized disclosure shall be punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Any employee of the department who in the ordinary course of such person’s employment has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that another employee has engaged in the unauthorized disclosure of records shall report in writing such unauthorized disclosure of records to the commissioner. The report shall include the name of the person disclosing the information and the nature of the information disclosed and to whom it was disclosed, if known.

(c) Records that (1) contain privileged communications, or (2) are confidential pursuant to any federal law or regulation shall not be disclosed except as authorized by law.

(d) Any information disclosed from a person’s record shall not be further disclosed to another individual or entity without the written consent of the person, except (1) pursuant to section 19a-80 or 19a-80f, provided such disclosure is otherwise permitted pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, (2) pursuant to the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (3) as otherwise provided by law.

(e) The commissioner shall, upon written request, disclose the following information concerning agencies licensed by the Department of Children and Families, except foster care parents, relatives of the child who are licensed to provide foster care or prospective adoptive families: (1) The name of the licensee; (2) the date the original license was issued; (3) the current status of the license; (4) whether an agency investigation or review is pending or has been completed; and (5) any licensing action taken by the department at any time during the period such license was issued and the reason for such action, provided disclosure of such information will not jeopardize a pending investigation.

(f) The name of any individual who reports suspected abuse or neglect of a child or youth or cooperates with an investigation of child abuse or neglect shall be kept confidential upon request or upon determination by the department that disclosure of such information may be detrimental to the safety or interests of the individual, except the name of any such individual shall be disclosed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section to (1) an employee of the department for reasons reasonably related to the business of the department; (2) a law enforcement officer for purposes of investigating abuse or neglect of a child or youth; (3) a state’s attorney for purposes of investigating or prosecuting abuse or neglect of a child or youth; (4) an assistant attorney general or other legal counsel representing the department; (5) a judge of the Superior Court and all necessary parties in a court proceeding pursuant to section 17a-112 or 46b-129, or a criminal prosecution involving child abuse or neglect; (6) a state child care licensing agency; or (7) the executive director of any institution, school or facility or superintendent of schools pursuant to section 17a-101i.

(g) The department shall disclose records, subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, without the consent of the person who is the subject of the record, to:

(1) The person named in the record or such person’s authorized representative, provided such disclosure shall be limited to information (A) contained in the record about such person or about such person’s biological or adoptive minor child, if such person’s parental rights to such child have not been terminated; and (B) identifying an individual who reported abuse or neglect of the person, including any tape recording of an oral report pursuant to section 17a-103, if a court determines that there is reasonable cause to believe the reporter knowingly made a false report or that the interests of justice require disclosure;

(2) An employee of the department for any purpose reasonably related to the performance of such employee’s duties;

(3) A guardian ad litem or attorney appointed to represent a child or youth in litigation affecting the best interests of the child or youth;

(4) The Attorney General, any assistant attorney general or any other legal counsel retained to represent the department during the course of a legal proceeding involving the department or an employee of the department;

(5) The Child Advocate or the Child Advocate’s designee;

(6) The Chief Public Defender or the Chief Public Defender’s designee for purposes of ensuring competent representation by the attorneys with whom the Chief Public Defender contracts to provide legal and guardian ad litem services to the subjects of such records and for ensuring accurate payments for services rendered by such attorneys;

(7) The Chief State’s Attorney or the Chief State’s Attorney’s designee for purposes of investigating or prosecuting an allegation related to child abuse or neglect, provided such prosecuting authority shall have access to records of a child charged with the commission of a delinquent act, who is not being charged with an offense related to child abuse, only while the case is being prosecuted and after obtaining a release;

(8) A state or federal law enforcement officer for purposes of investigating an allegation related to child abuse or neglect;

(9) Any foster or prospective adoptive parent, if the records pertain to a child or youth currently placed with the foster or prospective adoptive parent, or a child or youth being considered for placement with the foster or prospective adoptive parent, and the records are necessary to address the social, medical, psychological or educational needs of the child or youth, provided no information identifying a biological parent is disclosed without the permission of such biological parent;

(10) The Governor, when requested in writing in the course of the Governor’s official functions, the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee, the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary or the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to children, when requested in writing in the course of said committee’s official functions, and upon a majority vote of said committee, provided no name or other identifying information is disclosed unless such information is essential to the gubernatorial or legislative purpose;

(11) The Department of Public Health for the purpose of (A) determining the suitability of a person to care for children in a facility licensed pursuant to section 19a-77, 19a-80 or 19a-87b; (B) determining the suitability of such person for licensure; or (C) an investigation conducted pursuant to section 19a-80f;

(12) The Department of Developmental Services, to allow said department to determine eligibility, facilitate enrollment and plan for the provision of services to a child who is a client of said department and who is applying to enroll in or is enrolled in said department’s voluntary services program. At the time that a parent or guardian completes an application for enrollment of a child in the Department of Developmental Services’ voluntary services program, or at the time that said department updates a child’s annual individualized plan of care, said department shall notify such parent or guardian that the Department of Children and Families may provide records to the Department of Developmental Services for the purposes specified in this subdivision without the consent of such parent or guardian;

(13) A state agency that licenses or certifies an individual to educate or care for children or youth;

(14) A judge or employee of a probate court who requires access to such records in order to perform such judge’s or employee’s official duties;

(15) A judge of the Superior Court for purposes of determining the appropriate disposition of a child convicted as delinquent or a child who is a member of a family with service needs;

(16) A judge of the Superior Court in a criminal prosecution for purposes of in-camera inspection whenever (A) the court has ordered that the record be provided to the court; or (B) a party to the proceeding has issued a subpoena for the record;

(17) A judge of the Superior Court and all necessary parties in a family violence proceeding when such records concern family violence with respect to the child who is the subject of the proceeding or the parent of such child who is the subject of the proceeding;

(18) The Auditors of Public Accounts, or their representative, provided no information identifying the subject of the record is disclosed unless such information is essential to an audit conducted pursuant to section 2-90;

(19) A local or regional board of education, provided the records are limited to educational records created or obtained by the state or Connecticut Unified School District #2, established pursuant to section 17a-37;

(20) The superintendent of schools for any school district for the purpose of determining the suitability of a person to be employed by the local or regional board of education for such school district pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-221d;

(21) The Department of Motor Vehicles for the purpose of criminal history records checks pursuant to subsection (e) of section 14-44, provided information disclosed pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to information included on the Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry established pursuant to section 17a-101k, subject to the provisions of sections 17a-101g and 17a-101k concerning the nondisclosure of findings of responsibility for abuse and neglect;

(22) The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for the purpose of treatment planning for young adults who have transitioned from the care of the Department of Children and Families; and

(23) The superintendent of a public school district or the executive director or other head of a public or private institution for children providing care for children or a private school pursuant to sections 17a-101b, 17a-101c and 17a-101i.

(h) The department may, subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, disclose records without the consent of the person who is the subject of the record, to:

(1) An employee or former employee of the department or such employee or former employee’s authorized representative for purposes of participating in any court, administrative or disciplinary proceeding, provided such disclosure shall be limited to records that are necessary to the proceeding, as determined by the department;

(2) Multidisciplinary teams, as described in section 17a-106a;

(3) A provider of professional services for a child, youth or parent referred to such provider, provided such disclosure is limited to information necessary to provide services to the child, youth or parent;

(4) An individual or agency under contract with the department for the purposes of identifying and assessing a potential foster or adoptive home for a child or youth, provided no information identifying a biological parent of a child or youth is disclosed without the permission of such biological parent;

(5) The Department of Social Services for the purpose of (A) determining the suitability of a person for payment from the Department of Social Services for providing child care; or (B) promoting the health, safety and welfare of the child or youth;

(6) A physician examining a child with respect to whom abuse or neglect is suspected and who is authorized pursuant to section 17a-101f to keep the child in the custody of a hospital when such physician requires the information in a record of the department to determine whether to keep the child in protective custody;

(7) An individual who reports child abuse or neglect pursuant to sections 17a-101a to 17a-101c, inclusive, or section 17a-103, who made a report of abuse or neglect, provided the information disclosed is limited to (A) the status of the investigation conducted pursuant to section 17a-101g resulting from the individual’s report; and (B) in general terms, the action taken by the department as a result of such investigation;

(8) An individual or organization engaged in the business of medical, psychological or psychiatric diagnosis and treatment and who is treating an individual who has perpetrated abuse or neglect, as determined in an investigation conducted pursuant to section 17a-101g, or who is unwilling or unable to protect a child or youth from abuse or neglect, as determined in an investigation conducted pursuant to section 17a-101g, when the commissioner, or the commissioner’s designee, determines that the disclosure is necessary to accomplish the objectives of diagnosis or treatment;

(9) A court or public agency in another state or a federally recognized Indian tribe, that is responsible for investigating child abuse or neglect, preventing child abuse and neglect or providing services to families at risk for child abuse or neglect, for the purpose of such investigation, prevention or providing services to such families;

(10) An individual conducting bona fide research, provided no information identifying the subject of the record is disclosed unless (A) such information is essential to the purpose of the research; and (B) the department has given written approval for the use of such information;

(11) An individual or agency involved in the collection of fees for services, provided such information is limited to the name and address of the person who received the services and the fees for services, except as provided in section 17b-225. In cases where a dispute arises over such fees or claims or where additional information is needed to substantiate the fee or claim, the Department of Children and Families may disclose the following: (A) That the person was, in fact, provided services by the department; (B) the dates and duration of such services; and (C) a general description of the types of services, including evidence that a service or treatment plan exists and has been carried out and evidence to substantiate the necessity for admission and length of stay in an institution or facility;

(12) A law enforcement officer or state’s attorney if there is reasonable cause to believe that a child or youth is being abused or neglected or at risk of being abused or neglected as a result of any suspected criminal activity by any individual;

(13) Any individual interviewed as part of an investigation conducted pursuant to section 17a-101g, who is not otherwise entitled to such information, provided such disclosure is limited to: (A) The general nature of the allegations contained in the reports; (B) the identity of the child or youth alleged to have been abused or neglected; and (C) information necessary to effectively conduct the investigation;

(14) Any individual, when information concerning an incident of child abuse or neglect has been made public or the commissioner reasonably believes publication of such information is likely, provided such disclosure is limited to: (A) Whether the department has received any report in accordance with sections 17a-101a to 17a-101c, inclusive, or section 17a-103; (B) in general terms, any action taken by the department, provided: (i) Names or other individually identifiable information of the child or other family members is not disclosed, regardless of whether such individually identifiable information is otherwise available, and (ii) the name or other individually identifiable information of the person suspected to be responsible for the abuse or neglect is not disclosed unless such person has been arrested for a crime due to such abuse or neglect; (C) confirmation or denial of the accuracy of information that has been made public; and (D) notwithstanding the provisions of section 46b-124, in general terms, the legal status of the case;

(15) Any individual for the purpose of locating such individual’s missing parent, child or youth, provided such disclosure is limited to information that assists in locating such missing parent, child or youth;

(16) Any individual, when the information concern an incident of abuse or neglect that resulted in a child or youth fatality or near fatality of a child or youth, provided disclosure of such information is in general terms and does not jeopardize a pending investigation;

(17) A court of competent jurisdiction whenever an employee of the department is subpoenaed and ordered to testify about such records;

(18) An individual who is not employed by the department who arranges, performs or assists in performing functions or activities on behalf of the department, including, but not limited to, data analysis, processing or administration, utilization reviews, quality assurance, practice management, consultation, data aggregation and accreditation services.

(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (e) to (h), inclusive, of this section, the department may refuse to disclose records to any individual, provided the department gives such individual notice (1) that records are being withheld; (2) of the general nature of the records being withheld; (3) of the department’s reason for refusing to disclose the records; and (4) of the individual’s right to judicial relief pursuant to subsection (j) of this section.

(j) (1) Any person or individual aggrieved by a violation of subsection (b) or (d), subsections (f) to (h), inclusive, or subsection (k) of this section, or a person’s authorized representative, may seek judicial relief in the manner prescribed in section 52-146j.

(2) Any person, individual or authorized representative denied access to records by the commissioner under subdivision (i) of this section may petition the superior court for the venue district provided in section 46b-142 in which the person resides for an order requiring the commissioner to permit access to those records, and the court, after a hearing and an in camera review of the records in question, shall issue such an order unless it determines that permitting disclosure of all or any portion of the record (A) would be contrary to the best interests of the person or the person’s authorized representative; (B) could reasonably result in the risk of harm to any individual; or (C) would contravene the public policy of the state.

(k) All written records disclosed to an individual who is not the subject of the record, an agency, an entity or an organization shall bear a stamp requiring confidentiality in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such records shall not be disclosed to another individual, agency, entity or an organization without the written consent of the person who is the subject of the record or as provided by this section. A copy of the consent form, specifying to whom and for what specific use the record is disclosed or a statement setting forth any other statutory authorization for disclosure and the limitations imposed on such disclosure, shall accompany the record. In cases where the disclosure is made orally, the individual disclosing the information shall inform the recipient that such information is governed by the provisions of this section.

(l) Whenever any person, attorney or authorized representative, having obtained access to any record, believes there are factually inaccurate entries or materials contained in such record, such person, attorney or authorized representative may add a statement to the record setting forth what such person, attorney or authorized representative believes to be an accurate statement of those facts and such statement shall become a permanent part of the record.

(P.A. 75-524, S. 20, 30; P.A. 77-246, S. 12; P.A. 78-280, S. 30, 127; P.A. 91-299, S. 1; P.A. 96-246, S. 17; P.A. 97-104; 97-259, S. 25, 41; 97-319, S. 8, 22; P.A. 98-70, S. 2; 98-239, S. 17, 35; P.A. 01-142, S. 1; P.A. 05-207, S. 3, 4; P.A. 06-187, S. 76; P.A. 07-217, S. 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5, S. 21; P.A. 09-142, S. 1; 09-185, S. 1; 09-232, S. 101, 102; P.A. 10-93, S. 11; 10-144, S. 16; P.A. 11-51, S. 13; 11-93, S. 2; 11-167, S. 1; P.A. 12-35, S. 1, 2; 12-82, S. 4, 5.)

History: P.A. 77-246 added Subsec. (c)(5); P.A. 78-280 replaced juvenile court with superior court and specified “venue” districts in Subsec. (f); Sec. 17-431 transferred to Sec. 17a-28 in 1991; P.A. 91-299 in Subsec. (a) amended definitions of “person”, “attorney”, “authorized representative”, “consent”, and “records” added definition of “disclose”, in Subsec. (b) added provisions re confidentiality and criminal penalty, added a new Subsec. (c) re disclosure of records to state’s attorney and relettered remaining Subsecs. accordingly, amended Subsec. (d) by adding Subdivs. (1) to (10), inclusive, re disclosure of records without consent of a person and making existing Subdiv. (4) a new Subsec. and renumbering the Subparas. as Subdivs., added a new Subsec. (f) re confidentiality of a person reporting child abuse or neglect, added a new Subsec. (g) re confidentiality of name of person cooperating with investigation of child abuse or neglect, added a new Subsec. (h) re disclosure of child abuse or neglect investigation, amended existing Subsec. (d) re disclosure without written consent of a person, except in criminal cases with a court order, added new Subsec. (e)(1) and (2) re disclosure of information concerning person reporting child abuse and neglect, amended existing Subsec. (f) by making technical changes and amended existing Subsec. (g) requiring submittal of regulations re disclosure of records; P.A. 96-246 amended Subsec. (a)(5) by changing reference to Sec. 17a-101(g) to Sec. 17a-101e, amended Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) by adding provisions re disclosure of records and disclosure of information by commissioner or designee when child abuse incident has been made public or publication likely and disclosure of information re agencies licensed by department, amended Subsec. (e) by adding law enforcement agency and provided disclosure of petitions and affidavits pled in superior court for juvenile matters, amended Subsec. (f)(7) to provide disclosure to reporter of child abuse action taken by the department in general terms, amended Subsec. (f)(8) permitting disclosure to Governor, committee on judiciary and committee having cognizance of matters involving children, added Subsec. (j) permitting commissioner, upon request of employee, to disclose records necessary for employee disciplinary hearing or appeal and amended Subsec. (n) by changing “1991” to “1996”; P.A. 97-104 added Subsec. (e)(3) and (4) re provision of copies of records to an attorney or guardian ad litem appointed to represent a child in litigation affecting the best interests of the child; P.A. 97-259 amended Subsec. (e) to allow copies to be provided to the Department of Public Health for the purpose of determining suitability of a person to care for children in conjunction with the department’s day care licensure function and to the Department of Social Services for the purpose of determining the suitability of a person for any payment from the department for providing child care, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-319 added Subsec. (e)(3) and (4) re provision of copies of records to state agencies and the Governor, amended Subsec. (f) to expand disclosure of records to include all communications and made changes consistent with changes in Subsec. (e), added Subsec. (h)(4) and (5) re disclosure to judges and child placing agencies and schools, amended Subsec. (l) to prohibit the release of information identifying a person upon determination a reporter knowingly made a false report and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-70 added Subsec. (f)(10) and (11), (codified as Subsec. (g)(11) and (12) due to the relettering of Subsecs. and other amendments in P.A. 98-239), providing for disclosure of records to judge of Superior Court for determining appropriate disposition of child and to superintendents or designees of state-operated facilities within Department of Children and Families; P.A. 98-239 added Subsec. (a)(7) defining “near fatality”, added new provision as Subsec. (d) to require commissioner to make available to the public information re an incident of abuse or neglect which resulted in a child fatality or near fatality, relettered former Subsecs. (d) to (n) as (e) to (o), amended Subsec. (f)(6) to require commissioner to provide copies of records, upon request, to any state agency which licenses such person to educate children pursuant to section 10-145b, added new Subsec. (f)(8), requiring commissioner to provide to a local or regional board of education, upon request, copies of educational records created or obtained by the state or Connecticut-Unified School District #2 and to expand disclosure of department or nondepartment records to all persons or entities specified in Subsec. (f), eliminating reference to “such law enforcement agency or attorney”, amended Subsec. (g)(4) to allow commissioner, when he determines it to be in a child’s best interest, to disclose department or nondepartment records that are not privileged or confidential to public or private agencies responsible for a child’s education, added new Subsec. (g)(10), authorizing disclosure of records to the Department of Social Services, provided the information disclosed is necessary to promote the health, safety and welfare of the child, and made technical changes throughout (Revisor’s note: The reference in Subsec. (n)(2) to “... subdivision (2) of subsection (l) of this section ...” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “... subdivision (2) of subsection (m) of this section ...” to reflect the relettering of Subsecs. by P.A. 98-239); P.A. 01-142 added Subsec. (f)(9) re disclosure of records to party in custody proceeding in Superior Court where records concern child or parent, and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 05-207 made technical changes and required name or other individually identifiable information of suspected person not to be disclosed unless person arrested for crime in Subsec. (c) and made disclosure of records to state agencies subject to provisions of Secs. 17a-101g and 17a-101k in Subsec. (f); P.A. 06-187 added Subsec. (f)(10) permitting copies of department records to be provided without consent of a person to the Chief Child Protection Attorney, or designee, for purposes of providing competent representation by contract attorneys and to ensure accurate payment for attorney services; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective July 12, 2007; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-5 added Subsec. (f)(11) re provision of records to Department of Motor Vehicles for checking child abuse and neglect registry, effective October 6, 2007; P.A. 09-142 added Subsec. (g)(13) re commissioner’s authority to disclose records to Department of Developmental Services to determine eligibility, facilitate enrollment and plan for provision of services to a child through said department’s voluntary services program, effective June 25, 2009; P.A. 09-185 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision requiring employees of department to report unauthorized disclosure of records and making a technical change; P.A. 09-232 amended Subsec. (f)(5) by redesignating existing provision as Subpara. (A) and adding Subpara. (B) re supplying records to Department of Public Health in connection with investigation pursuant to Sec. 19a-80f, and amended Subsec. (l) by adding Subdiv. (1) re disclosure of information pursuant to Sec. 19a-80f and designating existing exception as Subdiv. (2); P.A. 10-93 amended Subsec. (g)(13) by substituting “and who is applying for participation in said department’s voluntary services program or enrolled in said program” for “but who is not yet participating in said department’s voluntary services program” and by adding “or at the time that a child’s annual individualized plan of care is updated” re notice to parent or guardian; P.A. 10-144 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(6) and added Subsec. (f)(12) re disclosure of records to a judge of Superior Court and necessary parties in family violence proceeding when records concern family violence with respect to child who is subject of proceeding or parent of such child; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (f)(10) to substitute “Chief Public Defender” for “Chief Child Protection Attorney”, effective July 1, 2011; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Chief Child Protection Attorney” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Chief Public Defender” in Subsec. (g)(6), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-93 amended Subsec. (f) by adding provision requiring disclosure of records concerning inclusion on Department of Children and Families child abuse and neglect registry in Subdiv. (8), adding Subpara. (C) requiring commissioner to provide records to the superintendent of schools for employment purposes, and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-167 amended Subsec. (a) by redefining “person”, “authorized representative”, “consent”, “records” and “near fatality”, amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to Secs. 17a-101g and 17a-101k, deleted former Subsec. (c) re disclosure of information made public, deleted former Subsec. (d) re availability of information concerning incidents resulting in a fatality or near fatality, added new Subsec. (c) re confidentiality of records containing privileged communications and records confidential under federal law, added new Subsec. (d) re further disclosure of information, amended Subsec. (e) by replacing “certified” with “licensed”, deleted former Subsec. (f) re disclosure of records without consent, deleted former Subsec. (g) re records commissioner may disclose, deleted former Subsec. (h) re disclosure of information related to collection of fees for services, deleted former Subsec. (i) re confidentiality of the name of a reporter of child abuse or neglect, deleted former Subsec. (j) re confidentiality of the name of an individual who cooperates in an investigation, deleted former Subsec. (k) re disclosure of records to an employee for a disciplinary hearing, deleted former Subsec. (l) re further disclosure of information, deleted former Subsec. (m) re access to records concerning the person seeking access, deleted former Subsec. (n) re relief for aggrieved persons, deleted former Subsec. (o) re promulgation of regulations, added new Subsec. (f) re confidentiality of the name of a reporter of child abuse or neglect, added new Subsec. (g) requiring disclosure of records without consent, added new Subsec. (h) allowing disclosure of records without consent, added new Subsec. (i) allowing department to refuse to disclose records, added new Subsec. (j) re relief for aggrieved persons, added new Subsec. (k) requiring certain records to bear a confidentiality stamp and requiring a consent form to accompany those records, and added new Subsec. (l) re factually inaccurate records; P.A. 12-35 amended Subsec. (g) to make technical changes in Subdiv. (1), replace “business of the department” with “performance of such employee’s duties” in Subdiv. (2), replace “delinquency defendant” with “child charged with the commission of a delinquent act” in Subdiv. (7), make technical changes in Subdiv. (10), replace “a person” with “an individual” in Subdiv. (13), designate existing provision in Subdiv. (15) re disclosure to judge in criminal prosecution for purposes of in-camera inspection as new Subdiv. (16) and redesignate existing Subdivs. (16) to (20) accordingly, amended Subsec. (h) to replace “description of the service” with “description of the types of services” in Subdiv. (11)(C), replace “person” with “individual” in Subdiv. (12), replace “minor victim” with “child” in Subdiv. (14)(B)(i), delete references to findings in Subdiv. (16) and make technical changes in Subdivs. (6), (9), (11), (13), (14) and (15), and amended Subsec. (k) to replace “records disclosed to another individual or agency” with “records disclosed to an individual who is not the subject of the record, an agency, an entity or an organization”, replace “anyone” with “another individual, agency, entity or an organization” and specify consent required is that of the person who is the subject of the record; P.A. 12-82 amended Subsec. (d) by adding Subdiv. (3) allowing for further disclosure of records as otherwise provided by law and making technical changes, and amended Subsec. (g) by adding provision re purposes of disclosure of records to Chief Public Defender or designee in Subdiv. (6), making technical changes in Subdivs. (7) and (8), adding provision, codified by the Revisors as new Subdiv. (20), re disclosure of records to superintendent of schools, replacing provision re information obtained in investigation with provision re information included on abuse and neglect registry in redesignated Subdiv. (21) re disclosure of records to Department of Motor Vehicles, and adding provision, codified by the Revisors as Subdiv. (23), re disclosure of records to superintendent of a public school district or executive director of a public or private institution for children providing care for children or a private school.

See Sec. 4-61dd re personnel actions against state officers and employees.

Cited. 230 C. 43.

Cited. 8 CA 216.

Annotations to present section:

Cited. 230 C. 43.

Cited. 40 CA 233. Statutory scheme of section sets forth a specific process of review for an individual denied access to records; records defined under section fall within the express exemption of Sec. 1-210(a) and are exempt from disclosure. 136 CA 76.

Subsec. (b):

To compel in camera review of records that are privileged pursuant to Subsec., under constitutional right to confrontation clause, defendant must make preliminary showing that a reasonable ground exists to believe failure to review the privileged records would likely impair defendant’s right to confrontation, beyond merely asserting the records may contain information useful for the impeachment of a witness’s credibility; under due process clause, defendant must at least make plausible statement of how the information would be material and favorable to the defense. 113 CA 142. A foster parent may not be compelled to testify in a civil proceeding as to the nature of his relationship to or his observations of a particular foster child because section embodies a broad legislative declaration of confidentiality, and the broad mandate of Subsec. applies without regard to the particular status of the disclosing party, be it a department worker or foster parent. 120 CA 390.

Subsec. (f):

Does not impose confidentiality requirements on disclosure of those records obtained by an agency under section. 261 C. 219.

Subsec. (l):

Court not required to review or order state’s attorney to review department records subpoenaed by defendant because defendant did not make a preliminary showing that they contained exculpatory information. 126 CA 437.

Subsec. (m):

Exception does not allow for parents, acting as grandparents, whose son’s parental rights have been terminated, to gain access to child’s records. 47 CS 273.