2020 -- H 7707

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LC005109

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Blazejewski, Williams, Donovan, Ackerman, and
O'Brien

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2020

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (General Treasurer)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 12-25-30.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-25 entitled "Criminal

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Injuries Compensation" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     12-25-30.1. Disclosure of records as to claims; confidentiality.

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     (a) All applications, notices of award or denial, medical records, mental health counseling

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records, employment information, personal financial information and investigative records

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received, obtained or maintained by the administrator in connection with any application for

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compensation, and identities of individuals approved or denied of compensation shall be

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maintained as confidential investigative material and shall not be released or disclosed to any

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person or entity whatsoever, except as authorized by the applicant, by representatives of the

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applicant, by any individual rendering assistance to the office in the administration of this chapter,

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by law enforcement for the discharge of their official duties, by state government auditors or federal

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auditors when necessary to investigate the compliance of the administration of the program with

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applicable state and federal laws, or as otherwise required for judicial proceedings or provided by

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law. The application and the notice of award or denial shall be deemed public records.

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     (b) Nothing in subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed to prohibit the administrator

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from issuing any statistical material or data, or publishing or causing the data to be published.

 

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION

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     This act would amend the disclosure of records process relating to criminal injuries

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compensation by permitting the disclosure of the records if the release is authorized by

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representatives of the applicant, or is disclosed to other authorized governmental officials.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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