§321-475 Use of domestic violence fatality review information and records. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, all information and records acquired by the department during its review of domestic violence fatalities pursuant to this part are confidential and shall only be disclosed as necessary to carry out the purposes of this part.

(b) Domestic violence fatality review information and statistical compilations of data that do not contain any information not previously publicly disclosed that would permit the identification of any person, shall be public records.

(c) An individual participating in the domestic violence fatality review of a victim's death shall not be questioned in any civil or criminal proceeding regarding information presented in or an opinion formed as a result of a domestic violence fatality review meeting. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an individual from testifying to information obtained independently of the domestic violence fatality review of a victim's death, or which is public information, or where law or court order requires disclosure.

(d) Domestic violence fatality review information held by the department as a result of domestic violence fatality reviews conducted under this part shall not be subject to subpoena, discovery, or introduction into evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding, except that domestic violence fatality review information otherwise available from other sources shall not be immune from subpoena, discovery, or introduction into evidence through those sources solely because it was provided as required by this part.

(e) Information collected and recommendations derived from the review process shall be compiled for use in system reform efforts relating to the reduction of preventable deaths, near-deaths, and suicides resulting from domestic violence. [L 2006, c 82, pt of §1; am L 2015, c 203, §3]