§ 40-9-17. Confidentiality of reports — Authorized uses — Penalty for disclosure.
(a) All reports mentioned in § 40-9-15 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 the reports for purposes not directly connected with the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired or the division of motor vehicles, except with the consent of the individual concerned.
(b) The director of human services shall have the power to establish rules and regulations governing the custody, use, and preservation of the reports, which shall have the same force and effect as law. The reports shall be produced in response to a 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 services for people who are blind or visually impaired. No subpoena shall be issued by a court asking either for the reports, or for persons having custody or access to the reports, unless the litigation involved in the matter is directly connected with the administration of services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
(c) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, or the lawful rules and regulations made hereunder, shall be deemed 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 of human services, 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.
History of Section.P.L. 1966, ch. 223, § 1; P.L. 1968, ch. 105, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 40-11-17; Reorg. Plan No. 1, 1970; P.L. 1976, ch. 211, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 83, § 99; P.L. 1999, ch. 130, § 99; P.L. 2006, ch. 216, § 21.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 40-9 - Services for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Section 40-9-2. - General duties of administrator.
Section 40-9-3. - Advisory council — Appointment of members.
Section 40-9-4. - Chairperson of advisory council — Secretarial service.
Section 40-9-5. - Functions of advisory council.
Section 40-9-6. - Home instruction of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Section 40-9-8. - Proceeds of work of blind and visually impaired workers.
Section 40-9-9. - Cooperation with department of elementary and secondary education.
Section 40-9-10. - [Repealed.]
Section 40-9-10.1. - Telephone access to information programs.
Section 40-9-11. - Cooperation in federal business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-11.1. - Authorization to establish vending facilities for the blind on state property.
Section 40-9-11.2. - Validity of limitations on placement or operation.
Section 40-9-11.3. - Provision for vending machines in buildings purchased or leased by state.
Section 40-9-11.4. - Compliance with chapter.
Section 40-9-11.5. - Vending machine income.
Section 40-9-11.6. - Definitions.
Section 40-9-12. - Agreements as to business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-13. - Federal business enterprises funds.
Section 40-9-14. - Application of receipts from business enterprises program.
Section 40-9-15. - Reports of blindness of persons.
Section 40-9-16. - Immunity from liability.
Section 40-9-17. - Confidentiality of reports — Authorized uses — Penalty for disclosure.