§ 4-1303.06. Confidentiality of records and information.

Prior Codifications

1981 Ed., § 6-2126.

1973 Ed., § 6-2136.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 13-136 added subsec. (c).

D.C. Law 14-28, in subsec. (a), inserted "or the investigation or review of child fatalities by representatives of the Child Fatality Review Committee, established pursuant to § 4-1317.03".

D.C. Law 14-69 repealed subsec. (c) which had read:.

"(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Mayor or the Director of the designated Child and Family Services Agency may disclose to the public the findings or information about a case of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a child's fatality or near fatality. Nothing may be disclosed that would likely endanger the life, safety, or physical or emotional well-being of a child or the life or safety of any other person or which may compromise the integrity of a Mayor's investigation or a civil or criminal investigation or judicial proceeding. If the Mayor denies access to specific information on this basis, the requesting entity may seek disclosure of the information through the Superior Court. The name or any other information identifying the person or entity who referred the child to the Department of Human Services shall not be released to the public."

D.C. Law 18-273 rewrote subsec. (a), which had read as follows:

"(a) Information acquired by staff of the Social Rehabilitation Administration of the Department of Human Services which identifies individual children reported as or found to be abused or neglected or which identifies other members of their families or other persons or other individuals shall be considered confidential and may be released or divulged only for purposes relating to the identification of abuse or neglect, the identification of service needs or resources, the securing or provision of treatment or direct services for the child or individual identified, or the investigation or review of child fatalities by representatives of the Child Fatality Review Committee, established pursuant to § 4-1371.03."

Temporary Amendments of Section

For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 18 of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Temporary Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-20, September 6, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 9090).

Temporary Repeal of Section

For temporary (225 day) repeal of section, see § 2(a) of Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Temporary Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Law 13-215, April 3, 2001, law notification 38 DCR 3457).

Emergency Act Amendments

For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of the Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-428, August 14, 2000, 47 DCR 7451).

For temporary (90 day) repeal of section, see § 2(a) of the Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-491, December 18, 2000, 48 DCR 57).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-6, February 13, 2001, 48 DCR 2479).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 18 of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-40, April 25, 2001, 48 DCR 5917).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 18 of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Legislative Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14- 82, July 9, 2001, 48 DCR 6355).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-191, November 29, 2001, 48 DCR 11233).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(a) of Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-286, February 25, 2002, 49 DCR 2317).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 202 of Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-530, August 6, 2010, 57 DCR 8099).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 202 of Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2010 (D.C. Act 18-582, October 20, 2010, 57 DCR 10118).

Legislative History of Laws

Law 3-29, the "Confidentiality and Disclosure of Records on Abused and Neglected Children Act of 1979," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 3-159, which was referred to the Committee on Human Resources. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 17, 1979 and July 31, 1979, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 1, 1979, it was assigned Act No. 3-78 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.

For Law 13-136, see notes following § 4-1301.02.

For Law 14-28, see notes following § 4-344.01.

Law 14-69, the "Public Disclosure of Findings and Information in Cases of Child Fatality or Near Fatality Amendment Act of 2001", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 14-181, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 26, 2001, and July 10, 2001, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 19, 2001, it was assigned Act No. 14-182 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 14-69 became effective on February 27, 2002.

For Law 18-273, see notes following § 4-209.04.