§ 40-6-12. Records as to assistance.
(a) All records pertaining to the administration of public assistance pursuant to this chapter and chapter 8 of this title are hereby declared to constitute confidential matter. It shall be unlawful for any person to make use of, or cause to be used, any information contained in records for purposes not directly connected with the administration thereof, except with the consent of the individual concerned.
(b) The director of the department shall have the power to establish rules and regulations governing the custody, use, and preservation of the records, papers, files, and communications dealing with the administration of public assistance. The rules and regulations shall have the same force and effect as law. The records shall be produced in response to subpoena duces tecum properly issued by any federal or state court; provided, however, that the purpose for which the subpoena is sought is directly connected with the administration of public assistance. No subpoena shall be issued by a court asking either for the records, or for persons having custody or access to the records, unless the litigation involved in such matters is directly connected with the administration of public assistance.
(c) Any person, who by law is entitled to a list of individuals receiving any of the assistance as provided in this section, shall not publish, or cause to be published, the list except by the express consent of the director of the department, or to make use thereof for purposes not directly connected with the administration thereof. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, or the lawful rules and regulations made pursuant to this section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200) or shall be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the director of the department, or his or her agents duly authorized for that purpose, from issuing any statistical material or data, or publishing, or causing the data to be published, whenever he or she shall deem it to be in the public interest. The director of the department may inquire into the records of any state department or agency in the course of his or her administration of public assistance.
History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 118, art. 13, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 326, § 127; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 17.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 40-6 - Public Assistance Act
Section 40-6-1. - Short title — “Public assistance” and “department” defined.
Section 40-6-3. - General public assistance.
Section 40-6-3.1. - Eligibility for general public assistance.
Section 40-6-3.2. - Form of assistance.
Section 40-6-3.3. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.4 - — 40-6-3.6. [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.7. - Local welfare offices.
Section 40-6-3.8. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.9. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-3.10. - Funeral and burial expenses.
Section 40-6-3.11. - “Dependent child” defined.
Section 40-6-3.12. - Enteral nutrition products.
Section 40-6-5.1. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-5.2. - Cashing of AFDC, GPA checks.
Section 40-6-5.3. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-6-6. - Authorization to pay assistance.
Section 40-6-7.1. - Expanded eligibility for pregnant women and young children.
Section 40-6-7.2. - Presumptive eligibility for pregnant women.
Section 40-6-8. - Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
Section 40-6-8.1. - Prohibited uses of electronic benefit transfer cards.
Section 40-6-8.2. - Establishment of retail SNAP incentives pilot program.
Section 40-6-9.1. - Data matching — Healthcare coverages.
Section 40-6-10. - Effect of assistance on receipt of workers’ compensation benefits.
Section 40-6-11. - Report of income by recipients.
Section 40-6-12. - Records as to assistance.
Section 40-6-12.1. - Warrants — Release of information.
Section 40-6-13. - Appeals — Hearings.
Section 40-6-14. - Assistance not assignable — Exemption from process.
Section 40-6-15. - Fraudulently obtaining assistance.
Section 40-6-16. - Fraudulent use of food stamps.
Section 40-6-17. - Receipt and use of federal funds.
Section 40-6-18. - Agreements with other states.
Section 40-6-19. - Complainant in actions to invoke penalties.
Section 40-6-20. - Prosecution of criminal actions.
Section 40-6-21. - Child support — Income tax refund offset.
Section 40-6-21.1. - Voluntary acknowledgement of paternity — Hospital-based program.
Section 40-6-21.2. - Child medical support garnishment — State income tax offset.
Section 40-6-22. - Disclosure of information — Penalty.
Section 40-6-23. - Release of wage and earnings information.
Section 40-6-24. - Recipient not deemed pauper.
Section 40-6-25. - Rules and regulations.
Section 40-6-26. - Severability.
Section 40-6-27. - Supplemental Security Income.
Section 40-6-28. - Interim cash assistance for individuals with disabilities.