217.31 Action for damages.
1. Any person may institute a civil action for damages under chapter 669 or to restrain the dissemination of confidential records set out in section 217.30, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, “c”, or “d”, in violation of that section, and any person, agency or governmental body proven to have disseminated or to have requested and received confidential records in violation of section 217.30, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, “c”, or “d”, shall be liable for actual damages and exemplary damages for each violation and shall be liable for court costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the party bringing the action. In no case shall the award for damages be less than one hundred dollars.
2. Any reasonable grounds that a public employee has violated any provision of section 217.30 shall be grounds for immediate removal from access of any kind to confidential records or suspension from duty without pay.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §217.31]
2013 Acts, ch 90, §44; 2019 Acts, ch 125, §2
Structure Iowa Code
Chapter 217 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Section 217.1 - Programs of department.
Section 217.2 - Council on human services.
Section 217.3 - Duties of council.
Section 217.3A - Advisory committees.
Section 217.4 - Meetings of council.
Section 217.5 - Director of human services.
Section 217.6 - Rules and regulations — organization of department.
Section 217.7 - Administrators of divisions.
Section 217.8 - Division of child and family services.
Section 217.9 - Additional duties.
Section 217.9A - Commission on children, youth, and families.
Section 217.10 - Administrator of division of mental health and disability services.
Section 217.13 - Department to provide certain volunteer services — volunteer liability.
Section 217.15 - Administrator of division of administration.
Section 217.16 - Cooperation with other divisions.
Section 217.17 - Administrator of division of planning.
Section 217.18 - Official seal.
Section 217.20 - Trips to other states.
Section 217.21 - Annual report.
Section 217.23 - Personnel — merit system — reimbursement for damaged property.
Section 217.24 - Payment by electronic funds transfer.
Section 217.30 - Confidentiality of records — report of recipients.
Section 217.31 - Action for damages.
Section 217.32 - Office space in county.
Section 217.33 - Legal services.
Section 217.35 - Fraud and recoupment activities.
Section 217.36 - Distribution of earned income tax credit information.
Section 217.38 - Restitution to individuals of Japanese ancestry.
Section 217.39 - Persecuted victims of World War II — reparations — heirs.
Section 217.40 - Training for guardians and conservators.
Section 217.41 - Refugee services foundation.
Section 217.41A - Electronic health records system task force.
Section 217.42 - Service areas — offices.
Section 217.43 - Service area advisory boards — location of county offices.
Section 217.44 - Service areas — employee and volunteer record checks.