217.30 Confidentiality of records — report of recipients.

1. The following information relative to individuals receiving services or assistance from the department shall be held confidential:

a. Names and addresses of individuals receiving services or assistance from the department, and the types of services or amounts of assistance provided, except as otherwise provided in subsection 4.

b. Information concerning the social or economic conditions or circumstances of particular individuals who are receiving or have received services or assistance from the department.

c. Agency evaluations of information about a particular individual.

d. Medical or psychiatric data, including diagnosis and past history of disease or disability, concerning a particular individual.

2. Information described in subsection 1 shall not be disclosed to or used by any person or agency except for purposes of administration of the programs of services or assistance, and shall not in any case, except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, paragraph “b”, be disclosed to or used by persons or agencies outside the department unless they are subject to standards of confidentiality comparable to those imposed on the department by this section.

3. Nothing in this section shall restrict the disclosure or use of information regarding the cost, purpose, number of persons served or assisted by, and results of any program administered by the department, and other general and statistical information, so long as the information does not identify particular individuals served or assisted.

4. a. The general assembly finds and determines that the use and disclosure of information as provided in this subsection are for purposes directly connected with the administration of the programs of services and assistance referred to in this section and are essential for their proper administration.

b. Confidential information described in subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”, shall be disclosed to public officials for use in connection with their official duties relating to law enforcement, audits and other purposes directly connected with the administration of such programs, upon written application to and with approval of the director or the director’s designee. Confidential information described in subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”, shall also be disclosed to public officials for use in connection with their official duties relating to the support and protection of children and families, upon written application to and with the approval of the director or the director’s designee.

c. It shall be unlawful for any person to solicit, disclose, receive, use, or to authorize or knowingly permit, participate in, or acquiesce in the use of any information obtained from any such report or record for commercial or political purposes.

d. If approved by the director of human services or the director’s designee pursuant to a written request, the department shall disclose information described in subsection 1 to other state agencies or to any other person who is not subject to the provisions of chapter 17A and is providing services to recipients under chapter 239B who are participating in the promoting independence and self-sufficiency through employment job opportunities and basic skills program, if necessary for the recipients to receive the services.

e. Information described in subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”, is subject to disclosure in accordance with section 235A.15, subsection 10.

5. If it is definitely established that any provision of this section would cause any of the programs of services or assistance referred to in this section to be ineligible for federal funds, such provision shall be limited or restricted to the extent which is essential to make such program eligible for federal funds. The department shall adopt, pursuant to chapter 17A, any rules necessary to implement this subsection.

6. The provisions of this section shall apply to recipients of assistance under chapter 252. The reports required to be prepared by the department under this section shall, with respect to such assistance or services, be prepared by the person or officer charged with the oversight of the poor.

7. Violation of this section shall constitute a serious misdemeanor.

8. The provisions of this section shall take precedence over section 17A.12, subsection 7.

[C39, §3828.047; C46, 50, 54, 58, §239.10, 241.25, 249.44; C62, 66, §239.10, 241.25, 241A.16, 249.44, 249A.18; C71, 73, §239.10, 241.25, 241A.16, 249.44, 249A.8; C75, 77, 79, 81, §217.30]

93 Acts, ch 54, §1; 93 Acts, ch 97, §8; 97 Acts, ch 41, §32; 2000 Acts, ch 1088, §1; 2000 Acts, ch 1123, §1; 2004 Acts, ch 1153, §1; 2008 Acts, ch 1072, §2; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §43

Referred to in §135G.12, 135H.13, 216A.107, 217.31, 232.71D, 235A.15, 235A.17, 235A.24, 237.9, 237.21, 239B.8, 299.13

For requirement to make available requested record of reasons for excluding child from attending a hearing or meeting, see §232.91