§477.2. Privileged communications; public records exception for state governmental agencies; citizens hotline for alleged fraud, abuse, or wrongdoing

A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Hotline" or "call center" means a method or system created or established to accept any form of communication, whether telephonic, electronic, oral, or written, which is sent to the Department of Justice or to the Louisiana Department of Health, for the purposes of providing the citizens of Louisiana a means to report or provide information relating to alleged fraud, abuse, or wrongdoing.

(2) "Privileged communication" means a statement, oral or written, initiated by a person and submitted to an agency listed in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for the purposes of reporting any allegation of wrongdoing, public fraud, abuse, or Medicare or Medicaid complaints, involving any person or legal entity or any governmental agency, public employee, or appointed or elected official.

B. No agency which is listed in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section or official thereof shall be required to disclose, by way of testimony or public records request, any written or oral complaint, whether telephonic or electronic, provided to a hotline or call center of the agencies listed in Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section for the purposes of reporting or providing information regarding alleged fraud, abuse, or wrongdoing. The reported information and the identity of the persons reporting the information shall be considered privileged communications and shall be exempt from the provisions of law relative to public records as provided in R.S. 44:4.1(B)(7).

C. The privilege shall cease only:

(1) When the person is compelled to testify on behalf of the state on the matter; or

(2) Upon motion of any person arrested for or charged with a criminal offense who petitions the court for an in camera inspection of the records of a privileged communication described in Subsection B of this Section alleging facts showing that such records would provide evidence favorable to the defendant and relevant to the issue of guilt or punishment and the court determines that the person is entitled to all or any part of such records based upon a finding that it contains exculpatory evidence.

Acts 2005, No. 250, §1.