Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4087-A, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. X, §5, is amended to read:

6. Confidentiality of records. Information or records maintained by the program relating to a complaint or inquiry are confidential and may not be disclosed unless the disclosure is permitted by law and consented to by the ombudsman or ordered by court. The reports and records of the ombudsman are not subject to subpoena, discovery or introduction into evidence in a civil or criminal action for any purpose. Records maintained by the program are not public records as defined in Title 1, chapter 13.

SUMMARY

This bill provides strict confidentiality to the reports and records of the director of the ombudsman program, which provides services to children and families who are receiving child welfare services from the Department of Health and Human Services.