Bill Text: AZ SB1538 | 2019 | Fifty-fourth Legislature 1st Regular | Chaptered
Bill Title: Adult protective services
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-06-07 - Chapter 321 [SB1538 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2019-SB1538-Chaptered.html
|
House Engrossed Senate Bill |
|
State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fourth Legislature First Regular Session 2019
|
|
CHAPTER 321
|
|
SENATE BILL 1538 |
|
|
AN ACT
Amending sections 11‑483, 11‑484, 13‑2401, 16‑153, 28‑454, 39‑123, 39‑124, 41‑1959, 46‑451 and 46‑454, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 46, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding sections 46‑460 and 46‑461; relating to adult protective services.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 11-483, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
11-483. Records maintained by county recorder; confidentiality; definitions
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, in any county an eligible person may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing the unique identifier and the recording date contained in indexes of recorded instruments maintained by the county recorder and may request the county recorder to prohibit access to that person's residential address and telephone number contained in instruments or writings recorded by the county recorder.
B. An eligible person may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties, an organization of peace officers and the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation:
1. The person's full legal name and residential address.
2. The full legal description and parcel number of the person's property.
3. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official or former judge, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall instead attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment or an eligible person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program shall instead attach a copy of the participant's current and valid address confidentiality program authorization card issued pursuant to section 41‑163 and a statement of certification provided by the secretary of state's office.
4. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that restricting access pursuant to this section will serve to reduce the danger.
5. The document locator number and recording date of each instrument for which the person requests access restriction pursuant to this section.
6. A copy of pages from each instrument that includes the document locator number and the person's full legal name and residential address or full legal name and telephone number.
C. If an eligible person is also requesting pursuant to section 11‑484 that the general public be prohibited from accessing records maintained by the county assessor and county treasurer, the eligible person may combine the request pursuant to subsection B of this section with the request pursuant to section 11‑484 by filing one affidavit. The affidavit and subsequent action by the appropriate authorities shall meet all of the requirements of this section and section 11‑484.
D. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.
E. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. Each affidavit presented shall be attached to the petition. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.
F. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. If the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that the action requested by the affiant will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person, the presiding judge of the superior court shall order that the county recorder prohibit access for five years to the affiant's residential address and telephone number contained in instruments or writings recorded by the county recorder and made available on the internet. If the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that the affiant or another person is in actual danger of physical harm from a person or persons with whom the affiant has had official dealings and that action pursuant to this section will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person, the presiding judge of the superior court shall order that the general public be prohibited for five years from accessing the unique identifier and the recording date contained in indexes of recorded instruments maintained by the county recorder and identified pursuant to subsection B of this section.
G. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that an instrument or writing recorded by the county recorder has been redacted or sealed in error, that the original affiant no longer lives at the address listed in the original affidavit, that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists or that temporary access to the instrument or writing is needed, the presiding judge may temporarily stay or permanently vacate all or part of the court order prohibiting public access to the recorded instrument or writing.
H. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order and a copy of the affidavit required by subsection B of this section with the county recorder. No more than ten days after the date on which the county recorder receives the court order, the county recorder shall restrict access to the information as required by subsection F of this section.
I. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.
J. The county recorder shall remove the restrictions on all records restricted pursuant to this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county recorder shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, law enforcement support staff member, or employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, or law enforcement support staff member or employee of adult protective services who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county recorder may coordinate with the county assessor and county treasurer to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.
K. To include subsequent recordings in the court order, the eligible person shall present to the county recorder at the time of recordation a certified copy of the court order or shall provide to the county recorder the recording number of the court order. The county recorder shall ensure that public access shall be restricted pursuant to subsection A of this section.
L. This section shall not be interpreted to restrict access to public records for the purposes of perfecting a lien pursuant to title 12, chapter 9, article 2.
M. This section does not prohibit access to the records of the county recorder by parties to the instrument, a law enforcement officer performing the officer's official duties pursuant to subsection N of this section, a title insurer, a title insurance agent or an escrow agent licensed by the department of insurance or the department of financial institutions.
N. A law enforcement officer is deemed to be performing the officer's official duties if the officer provides a subpoena, court order or search warrant for the records.
O. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3 or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety.
5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
6. "Indexes" means only those indexes that are maintained by and located in the office of the county recorder, that are accessed electronically and that contain information beginning from and after January 1, 1987.
7. "Judge" means a judge or former judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the United States immigration court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
8. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
9. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
10. "Peace officer":
(a) Means any person vested by law, or formerly vested by law, with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests.
(b) Includes a federal law enforcement officer or agent who resides in this state and who has the power to make arrests pursuant to federal law.
11. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
12. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 2. Section 11-484, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
11-484. Records maintained by county assessor and county treasurer; redaction; definitions
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, in any county an eligible person may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing that person's residential address and telephone number that are contained in instruments, writings and information maintained by the county assessor and the county treasurer.
B. An eligible person may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties, an organization of peace officers and the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation:
1. The person's full legal name and residential address.
2. The full legal description and parcel number of the person's property.
3. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official or former judge, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment or an eligible person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program shall instead attach a copy of the participant's current and valid address confidentiality program authorization card issued pursuant to section 41‑163 and a statement of certification provided by the secretary of state's office.
4. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that redacting the residential address and telephone number will serve to reduce the danger.
C. If an eligible person is also requesting pursuant to section 11‑483 that the general public be prohibited from accessing records maintained by the county recorder, the eligible person may combine the request pursuant to subsection B of this section with the request pursuant to section 11‑483 by filing one affidavit. The affidavit and subsequent action by the appropriate authorities shall meet all of the requirements of this section and section 11‑483.
D. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.
E. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. Each affidavit presented shall be attached to the petition. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.
F. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. If the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that the action requested by the affiant will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person, the presiding judge of the superior court shall order the redaction of the affiant's residential address and telephone number that are contained in instruments, writings and information maintained by the county assessor and the county treasurer. The redaction shall be in effect for five years.
G. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that an instrument or writing maintained by the county assessor or the county treasurer has been redacted or sealed in error, that the original affiant no longer lives at the address listed in the original affidavit, that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists or that temporary access to the instrument or writing is needed, the presiding judge may temporarily stay or permanently vacate all or part of the court order prohibiting public access to the instrument or writing.
H. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order and a copy of the affidavit required by subsection B of this section with the county assessor and the county treasurer. No more than ten days after the date on which the county assessor and the county treasurer receive the court order, the county assessor and the county treasurer shall restrict access to the information as required by subsection F of this section.
I. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.
J. The county assessor and the county treasurer shall remove the restrictions on all records that are redacted pursuant to this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county assessor or the county treasurer shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, law enforcement support staff member, or employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, or law enforcement support staff member or employee of adult protective services who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county assessor or county treasurer may coordinate with the county recorder to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.
K. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3, or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety.
5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
6. "Judge" means a judge or former judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the United States immigration court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
8. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
9. "Peace officer":
(a) Means any person vested by law, or formerly vested by law, with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests.
(b) Includes a federal law enforcement officer or agent who resides in this state and who has the power to make arrests pursuant to federal law.
10. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
11. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 3. Section 13-2401, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
13-2401. Personal information on the world wide web; exception; classification; definitions
A. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly make available on the world wide web the personal information of a peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or prosecutor if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's, department of child safety employee's, adult protective services employee's or prosecutor's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family and the threat is reasonably apparent to the person making the information available on the world wide web to be serious and imminent.
B. It is not a violation of this section if an employee of a county recorder, county treasurer or county assessor publishes personal information, in good faith, on the website of the county recorder, county treasurer or county assessor in the ordinary course of carrying out public functions.
C. A violation of subsection A of this section is a class 5 felony.
D. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
2. "Immediate family" means a peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's or prosecutor's spouse, child or parent and any other adult who lives in the same residence as the person.
3. "Judge" means a judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
4. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
5. "Personal information" means a peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's or prosecutor's home address, home telephone number, pager number, personal photograph, directions to the person's home or photographs of the person's home or vehicle.
6. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
7. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 4. Section 16-153, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
16-153. Voter registration; confidentiality; definitions
A. Eligible persons, and any other registered voter who resides at the same residence address as the eligible person, may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing the residential address, telephone number and voting precinct number contained in their voter registration record.
B. Eligible persons may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties and an organization of peace officers:
1. The person's full legal name, residential address and date of birth.
2. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official or former judge, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall instead attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment.
3. The reasons for reasonably believing that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that sealing the residential address, telephone number and voting precinct number of the person's voting record will serve to reduce the danger.
C. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, prosecutor, public defender, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.
D. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. The petition shall have attached each affidavit presented. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.
E. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. The presiding judge of the superior court shall order the sealing for five years of the information contained in the voter record of the affiant and, on request, any other registered voter who resides at the same residence address if the presiding judge concludes that this action will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant.
F. The recorder shall remove the restrictions on all voter records submitted pursuant to subsection E of this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county recorder shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, law enforcement support staff member, or employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county recorder may coordinate with the county assessor and county treasurer to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.
G. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order with the county recorder. On receipt of the court order the county recorder shall seal the voter registration of the persons listed in the court order no later than one hundred twenty days from the date of receipt of the court order. To include a subsequent voter registration in the court order, a person listed in the court order shall present to the county recorder at the time of registration a certified copy of the court order or shall provide the county recorder the recording number of the court order. The information in the registration shall not be disclosed and is not a public record.
H. If the court denies an affiant's requested sealing of the voter registration record, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court where the petition was filed.
I. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that a voter registration record has been sealed in error or that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists, the presiding judge may vacate the court order prohibiting public access to the voter registration record.
J. On request by a person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment and presentation of an order of protection issued pursuant to section 13‑3602, an injunction against harassment issued pursuant to section 12‑1809 or an order of protection or injunction against harassment issued by a court in another state or a program participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3, the county recorder shall seal the voter registration record of the person who is protected and, on request, any other registered voter who resides at the residence address of the protected person. The record shall be sealed no later than one hundred twenty days from the date of receipt of the court order. The information in the registration shall not be disclosed and is not a public record.
K. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety.
5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
6. "Judge" means a judge or former judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the United States immigration court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
8. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
9. "Peace officer":
(a) Has the same meaning prescribed in section 1‑215.
(b) Includes a federal law enforcement officer or agent who resides in this state and who has the power to make arrests pursuant to federal law.
10. "Prosecutor" means a United States attorney, a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor or the attorney general and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
11. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 5. Section 28-454, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
28-454. Records maintained by department of transportation; redaction; definitions
A. Notwithstanding sections 28‑447 and 28‑455, an eligible person may request that persons be prohibited from accessing the eligible person's residential address and telephone number contained in any record maintained by the department.
B. An eligible person may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties, an organization of peace officers and the department:
1. The person's full legal name and residential address.
2. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official or former judge, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment.
3. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that redacting the residential address and telephone number from the department's public records will serve to reduce the danger.
C. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.
D. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. Each affidavit presented shall be attached to the petition. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.
E. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. The presiding judge of the superior court shall order the redaction of the residence address and telephone number from the public records maintained by the department if the judge concludes that this action will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person.
F. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order with the department. No more than one hundred fifty days after the date the department receives the court order, the department shall redact the residence addresses and telephone numbers of the affiants listed in the court order from the public records of the department. The residence addresses and telephone numbers shall not be disclosed and are not part of a public record.
G. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.
H. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that a residential address or telephone number has been sealed in error or that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists, the presiding judge may vacate the court order prohibiting public access to the residential address or telephone number.
I. Notwithstanding sections 28‑447 and 28‑455, the department shall not release a photograph of a peace officer if the peace officer has made a request as prescribed in this section that persons be prohibited from accessing the peace officer's residential address and telephone number in any record maintained by the department.
J. This section does not prohibit the use of a peace officer's photograph that is either:
1. Used by a law enforcement agency to assist a person who has a complaint against an officer to identify the officer.
2. Obtained from a source other than the department.
K. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
3. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased public officer, justice, judge or former judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety.
4. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
5. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
6. "Peace officer":
(a) Has the same meaning prescribed in section 1‑215.
(b) Includes a federal law enforcement officer or agent who resides in this state and who has the power to make arrests pursuant to federal law.
7. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor or the attorney general and includes an assistant or deputy county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
Sec. 6. Section 39-123, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
39-123. Information identifying eligible persons; confidentiality; definitions
A. Nothing in this chapter requires disclosure from a personnel file by a law enforcement agency or employing state or local governmental entity of the home address or home telephone number of eligible persons.
B. The agency or governmental entity may release the information in subsection A of this section only if either:
1. The person consents in writing to the release.
2. The custodian of records of the agency or governmental entity determines that release of the information does not create a reasonable risk of physical injury to the person or the person's immediate family or damage to the property of the person or the person's immediate family.
C. A law enforcement agency may release a photograph of a peace officer if either:
1. The peace officer has been arrested or has been formally charged by complaint, information or indictment for a misdemeanor or a felony offense.
2. The photograph is requested by a representative of a newspaper for a specific newsworthy event unless:
(a) The peace officer is serving in an undercover capacity or is scheduled to be serving in an undercover capacity within sixty days.
(b) The release of the photograph is not in the best interest of this state after taking into consideration the privacy, confidentiality and safety of the peace officer.
(c) An order pursuant to section 28‑454 is in effect.
D. This section does not prohibit the use of a peace officer's photograph that is either:
1. Used by a law enforcement agency to assist a person who has a complaint against an officer to identify the officer.
2. Obtained from a source other than the law enforcement agency.
E. This section does not apply to a certified peace officer or code enforcement officer who is no longer employed as a peace officer or code enforcement officer by a state or local government entity.
F. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, border patrol agent, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety or victim of domestic violence or stalking who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment.
5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
6. "Judge" means a judge or former judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the United States immigration court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
8. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
9. "Peace officer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13‑105.
10. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
11. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 7. Section 39-124, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
39-124. Releasing information identifying an eligible person; violations; classification; definitions
A. Any person who is employed by a state or local government entity and who, in violation of section 39‑123, knowingly releases the home address or home telephone number of an eligible person with the intent to hinder an investigation, cause physical injury to an eligible person or the eligible person's immediate family or cause damage to the property of an eligible person or the eligible person's immediate family is guilty of a class 6 felony.
B. Any person who is employed by a state or local government entity and who, in violation of section 39‑123, knowingly releases a photograph of a peace officer with the intent to hinder an investigation, cause physical injury to a peace officer or the peace officer's immediate family or cause damage to the property of a peace officer or the peace officer's immediate family is guilty of a class 6 felony.
C. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.
2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.
3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.
4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, border patrol agent, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety or employee of adult protective services who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism counter terrorism information center in the department of public safety or victim of domestic violence or stalking who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment.
5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.
6. "Judge" means a judge or former judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the United States immigration court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.
7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.
8. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.
9. "Peace officer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13‑105.
10. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.
11. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender.
Sec. 8. Section 41-1959, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
41-1959. Confidential information; permissible disclosure; rules; violation; classification
A. Unless otherwise provided by law, all personally identifiable information concerning any applicant, claimant, recipient, employer or client or concerning any person involved in an adult protective services action, other than a perpetrator against whom an allegation of abuse, neglect or exploitation has been substantiated pursuant to section 46‑458, is confidential and shall not be released unless ordered by a superior court judge or provided for by rule of court except as provided in subsections B, C and D of this section. Department records and files that contain information related to investigations conducted by child protective services or the department of child safety are confidential. The department shall release this information only as prescribed by section 8‑807.
B. Employees of the department of economic security, the department of law and the court may obtain the information described in subsection A of this section in the performance of their duties as authorized by rules adopted by the director.
C. Employees of the department of economic security, the department of law and the court may release any information that is otherwise held confidential under this section under any of the following circumstances:
1. To the applicant, claimant, recipient, employer or client if a request is made in writing by any of such persons specifically requesting information that directly relates to the person requesting such information.
2. To the extent necessary to make claims on behalf of a client for public or private assistance, insurance or health or medical assistance pursuant to title 11, chapter 2, article 7 or title 36, chapter 29 to which the client may be entitled.
3. In oral and written communications involving the provision of services or the referral to services between employees of, persons under contract with, or persons holding a general employment relationship with the department of economic security, the department of law or the juvenile court.
4. If the disclosure of otherwise confidential information is necessary to protect against a clear and substantial risk of imminent serious injury to a client.
5. To agencies of the federal government, this a state, or any a political subdivision of this any state or a tribal government for official purposes. All information received by a governmental agency pursuant to this paragraph shall be maintained as confidential, except where pertinent to a criminal prosecution.
6. To foster parents and persons certified to adopt if necessary to assist in the placement with or care of a child by such persons.
7. In any judicial or administrative proceeding involving an adult protective services client if the director of the department considers the information pertinent to the proceeding.
8. To the entities as specified in section 23‑722.04, subsections A and E for the development of a state workforce evaluation data system and program performance purposes and other program and research purposes as defined in a data sharing agreement but not including information regarding adult or child protection actions.
D. Notwithstanding section 46‑135, a standing committee of the legislature or a committee appointed by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives may obtain the information described in subsection A of this section on written notification to the director. Information obtained pursuant to this subsection may be used only for purposes of conducting investigations related to legislative oversight of the department. Information that is personally identifiable shall not be further disclosed.
E. Any violation of this section is a class 2 misdemeanor.
F. The department shall establish safeguards against the unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information in title IV‑D cases.
Sec. 9. Section 46-451, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
46-451. Definitions; program goals
A. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Abuse" means:
(a) Intentional infliction of physical harm.
(b) Injury caused by negligent acts or omissions.
(c) Unreasonable confinement.
(d) Sexual abuse or sexual assault.
2. "Adult protective services central intake unit" means a unit of specialized staff within adult protective services that is responsible for receiving reports of alleged abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults or making the necessary resource referrals.
2. 3. "De facto conservator" means any person who takes possession of the estate of a vulnerable adult, without right or lawful authority. A de facto conservator is subject to all of the responsibilities that attach to a legally appointed conservator or trustee.
3. 4. "De facto guardian" means any person who takes possession of the person of a vulnerable adult, without right or lawful authority. A de facto guardian is subject to all of the responsibilities that attach to a legally appointed guardian.
4. 5. "Exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of a vulnerable adult or his the vulnerable adult's resources for another's profit or advantage.
5. 6. "Informed consent" means any of the following:
(a) A written expression by the person that the person fully understands the potential risks and benefits of the withdrawal of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health and that the person desires that the services be withdrawn. A written expression is valid only if the person is of sound mind and if the consent is witnessed by at least two individuals who do not benefit by the withdrawal of services.
(b) Consent to withdraw food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health as permitted by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) A declaration made pursuant to title 36, chapter 32.
(d) Consent by another person under a durable power of attorney relating to health care services to withdraw food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health.
6. 7. "Neglect" means a pattern of conduct without the person's informed consent resulting in the deprivation of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, supervision, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain a vulnerable adult's minimum physical or mental health.
7. 8. "Protective services" means a program of identifiable and specialized social services that may offer social services appropriate to resolve problems of abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult.
8. 9. "Protective services worker" means a person who has been selected by and trained under the requirements prescribed by the department to provide protective services.
9. 10. "Vulnerable adult" means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or exploitation by others because of a physical or mental impairment. Vulnerable adult includes an incapacitated person as defined in section 14‑5101.
B. Protective services programs shall seek to maintain the adult in his the adult's familiar environment by strengthening his the adult's capacity for self-maintenance or by providing supportive services.
C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to mean means that an adult is abused, neglected or in need of protective services for the sole reason that he the adult relies on treatment from a recognized religious method of healing in lieu of medical treatment.
D. For the purposes of this section, a person is not exploited by a transfer of assets if the transfer is to obtain or maintain eligibility for benefits under title 36, chapter 29 or benefits for supplemental security income, medicare or veterans' administration programs and the transfer of assets is between the person and any of the following:
1. The person's spouse.
2. The person's child with a disability.
3. A trust for the benefit of the person's spouse or child with a disability.
E. A transfer of assets for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining eligibility for benefits under title 36, chapter 29 shall comply with 42 United States Code section 1396p and sections 36‑2934 and 36‑2934.01.
Sec. 10. Section 46-454, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
46-454. Duty to report abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults; duty to make medical records available; violation; classification
A. A physician, physician assistant, registered nurse practitioner, licensed practical or registered nurse, certified nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, home health provider, hospital intern or resident, surgeon, dentist, psychiatrist, psychologist, pharmacist, speech, physical or occupational therapist, long‑term care provider, social worker, peace officer, medical examiner, guardian, conservator, fire protection personnel, developmental disabilities provider, employee of the department of economic security or other person who has responsibility for the care of a vulnerable adult and who has a reasonable basis to believe that abuse, or neglect or exploitation of the adult has occurred or that exploitation of the adult's property has occurred shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such reasonable basis to a peace officer or to a the adult protective services worker central intake unit. The guardian or conservator of a vulnerable adult shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such reasonable basis to the superior court and the adult protective services central intake unit. All of the above reports shall be made immediately in person or by telephone and shall be followed by a written report mailed or delivered within forty-eight hours or on the next working day if the forty‑eight hours expire on a weekend or holiday or online.
B. If an individual prescribed in subsection A of this section is an employee or agent of a health care institution as defined in section 36‑401 and the health care institution's procedures require that all suspected abuse, neglect and exploitation be reported to adult protective services as required by law, the individual is deemed to have complied with the requirements of subsection A of this section by reporting or causing a report to be made to the health care institution in accordance with the health care institution's procedures.
B. C. An attorney, accountant, trustee, guardian, conservator or other person who has responsibility for preparing the tax records of a vulnerable adult or a person who has responsibility for any other action concerning the use or preservation of the vulnerable adult's property and who, in the course of fulfilling that responsibility, discovers a reasonable basis to believe that abuse, neglect or exploitation of the adult's property adult has occurred or that abuse or neglect of the adult has occurred shall immediately report or cause reports to be made of such reasonable basis to a peace officer, or to a the adult protective services worker or to the public fiduciary of the county in which the vulnerable adult resides. If the public fiduciary is unable to investigate the contents of a report, the public fiduciary shall immediately forward the report to a protective services worker. If a public fiduciary investigates a report and determines that the matter is outside the scope of action of a public fiduciary, then the report shall be immediately forwarded to a protective services worker central intake unit. All of the above reports shall be made immediately in person or by telephone and shall be followed by a written report mailed or delivered within forty-eight hours or on the next working day if the forty‑eight hours expire on a weekend or holiday or online.
C. D. Reports pursuant to subsections A and B C of this section shall contain:
1. The names and addresses of the adult and any persons having control or custody of the adult, if known.
2. The adult's age and the nature and extent of the adult's vulnerability.
3. The nature and extent of the adult's injuries or physical abuse, neglect or of the exploitation of the adult's property.
4. Any other information that the person reporting believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of the adult's injuries or physical abuse, neglect or of the exploitation of the adult's property.
D. E. Any person other than one required to report or cause reports to be made in subsection A or C of this section who has a reasonable basis to believe that abuse, or neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult has occurred may report the information to a peace officer or to a the adult protective services worker central intake unit.
E. F. A person having custody or control of medical or financial records of a vulnerable adult for whom a report is required or authorized under this section shall make such those records, or a copy of such those records, available to a peace officer or adult protective services worker investigating the vulnerable adult's abuse, neglect, or exploitation or abuse on written request for the records signed by the peace officer or adult protective services worker. Records disclosed pursuant to this subsection are confidential and may be used only in a judicial or administrative proceeding or investigation resulting from a report required or authorized under this section.
F. G. If reports pursuant to this section are received by a peace officer, the peace officer shall notify the adult protective services of the department of economic security central intake unit as soon as possible and make such that information available to them.
G. H. A person required to receive reports pursuant to subsection A, B C or D E of this section may take or cause to be taken photographs of the abused adult and the vicinity involved. Medical examinations, including radiological examinations of the involved adult, may be performed. Accounts, inventories or audits of the exploited adult's property may be performed. The person, department, agency or court that initiates such the photographs, examinations, accounts, inventories or audits shall pay the associated costs in accordance with existing statutes and rules. If any person is found to be responsible for the abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult in a criminal or civil action, the court may order the person to make restitution as the court deems appropriate.
H. I. If psychiatric records are requested pursuant to subsection E F of this section, the custodian of the records shall notify the attending psychiatrist, who may excise from the records, before they are made available:
1. Personal information about individuals other than the patient.
2. Information regarding specific diagnosis or treatment of a psychiatric condition, if the attending psychiatrist certifies in writing that release of the information would be detrimental to the patient's health or treatment.
I. J. If any portion of a psychiatric record is excised pursuant to subsection H I of this section, a court, upon on application of a peace officer or adult protective services worker, may order that the entire record or any portion of such the record containing information relevant to the reported abuse, or neglect or exploitation be made available to the peace officer or adult protective services worker investigating the abuse, or neglect or exploitation.
J. K. A licensing agency shall not find that a reported incidence of abuse at a care facility by itself is sufficient grounds to permit allow the agency to close the facility or to find that all residents are in imminent danger.
L. Retaliation against a person who in good faith reports abuse, neglect or exploitation is prohibited. Retaliation against a vulnerable adult who is the subject of a report is prohibited. Any adverse action taken against a person who reports abuse, neglect or exploitation or a vulnerable adult who is the subject of the report within ninety days after the report is filed is presumed to be retaliation.
K. M. A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
Sec. 11. Title 46, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding sections 46-460 and 46-461, to read:
46-460. Adult protective services information; confidentiality; allowed disclosures; violation; classification
A. Unless otherwise provided by law, all personally identifying information concerning any person who is involved in an adult protective services program, including the reporting source's identity, other than a perpetrator against whom an allegation of abuse, neglect or exploitation has been substantiated pursuant to section 46‑458, and all information that is gathered or created by adult protective services and that is contained in adult protective services records is confidential and may not be released except as provided in subsections B, C and D of this section.
B. Employees of the department of economic security, the department of law and the court may obtain the information described in subsection A of this section in the performance of their duties as authorized by rules adopted by the director of the department to economic security.
C. Employees of the department of economic security may release any information that is otherwise held confidential under this section, including the identity of the person who makes a report of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation, to the following or under any of the following circumstances:
1. Pursuant to a superior court order.
2. To law enforcement to be used only for purposes of conducting investigations.
3. To agencies that are responsible for investigating a report of abuse, neglect or exploitation when the investigation is authorized by statute or by an agreement with the department.
4. In any judicial or administrative proceeding involving an adult protective services client if the director considers the information pertinent to the proceeding.
5. To agencies of the federal government, any state, any political subdivision of any state for official purposes or any tribal government. All information received by a governmental agency pursuant to this paragraph shall be maintained as confidential, except where pertinent to a criminal prosecution.
D. Employees of the department of economic security may release any information that is otherwise held confidential under this section, except the reporting source's identity, to the following or under any of the following circumstances:
1. The client when a request is made in writing specifically requesting information that directly relates to the person requesting the information.
2. When necessary for purposes that are directly connected with the administration of adult protective services, including:
(a) To protect against a clear and substantial risk of imminent serious injury to a client or to others.
(b) In oral and written communications with the minimal necessary release of information needed to conduct an investigation of allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
(c) In oral and written communications to arrange specific services for a vulnerable adult.
(d) To a person that has the legal responsibility or authorization to care for, evaluate, treat or supervise a vulnerable adult.
(e) To the extent necessary to make claims on behalf of a client for public or private assistance, insurance or health or medical assistance pursuant to title 11, chapter 2, article 7 or title 36, chapter 29 to which the client may be entitled.
3. Pursuant to the consent of the client who is receiving adult protective services.
4. Persons identified by the client pursuant to one of the following:
(a) If the client is present or otherwise available and has the capacity to make decisions, an adult protective services worker may disclose the information if one of the following applies:
(i) The client agrees orally or in writing by signing a consent form that authorizes disclosure.
(ii) The client is given an opportunity to object and does not express an objection.
(b) If the client is not present or the opportunity to agree or object to the disclosure of information cannot practicably be provided because of the client's incapacity or an emergency circumstance, the adult protective services worker may disclose the information if the disclosure of the information is in the best interests of the client.
5. Any statutorily created team that is mandated to review adult protective services and the clients served in the completion of the official duties.
6. To disclose statistics or other summary information if personally identifiable information is not revealed by the disclosure.
7. To confirm, clarify, correct or supplement information concerning an allegation or actual instance of vulnerable adult abuse, neglect or exploitation that has been made public by a source or sources outside the department.
8. Any person who is engaged in bona fide research, if no personally identifying information is made available, unless it is essential to the research and the director or the director's designee gives prior approval. If the researcher wants to contact a subject of a record, the subject's consent must be obtained by the department before the contact.
E. The department may adopt rules to implement the purposes of the department and the duties and powers of the director under this chapter.
F. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.
46-461. Multidisciplinary adult protection team; duties; confidentiality; definition
A. Adult protective services may establish a multidisciplinary adult protection team consisting of employees of the adult protective services program, the county attorney or the county attorney's designees and representatives of law enforcement, behavioral health, domestic violence and sexual assault or other appropriate human service agencies. Representatives from local tribal governments and adult disability and advocate groups may be added to the multidisciplinary adult protection team.
B. The multidisciplinary adult protection team may provide public and professional education and develop resources for prevention, intervention and treatment to better enable the department to carry out its adult protection functions and to meet the community's needs for adult protection services.
C. Adult protective services may make available to members of the multidisciplinary adult protection team all information or records that are necessary for the official duties without the designation of the client's name unless the client's name is required for the official purposes. The case information received by members of the multidisciplinary adult protection team shall be maintained as confidential unless a consent to release has been given pursuant to this section or pursuant to a court order in this state or another state. Any member of the multidisciplinary adult protection team may share information that is acquired in the team member's professional capacity with other members of the multidisciplinary adult protection team to assist the multidisciplinary adult protection team in its function.
D. Case consultation may be performed by a committee of the team consisting of the team members representing social services, law enforcement, the county attorney, health care and persons directly involved in an individual case as determined by the case consultation committee.
E. A person to whom information is released pursuant to this section is prohibited from using or releasing the information except in the proper performance of the person's official duties unless a consent to release has been given pursuant to this section or pursuant to a court order or a grand jury subpoena.
F. For the purposes of this section, "case consultation" means a case review process that results in recommendations about services to be provided to an identified adult and family.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 7, 2019.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 7, 2019.
