A. No person licensed pursuant to the provisions of the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act shall disclose any information the licensee may have acquired from persons consulting the licensee in the licensee’s professional capacity as a behavioral practitioner or be compelled to disclose such information except:

1. With the written consent of the client, or in the case of death or disability of the client, the consent of the client’s personal representative or other person authorized to sue or the beneficiary of any insurance policy on the client’s life, health, or physical condition;

2. If the client is a child under the age of eighteen (18) years and the information acquired by the licensed person indicated that the child was the victim or subject of a crime, the licensed person may be required to testify fully in relation thereto upon an examination, trial, or other proceeding in which the commission of such a crime is a subject of the inquiry;

3. If the client waives the privilege by bringing charges against the licensed person;

4. When failure to disclose such information presents a danger to the health of any person; or

5. If the licensed behavioral practitioner is a party to a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from such therapy, in which case any waiver of the privilege accorded by this section shall be limited to that action.

B. No information shall be treated as privileged and there shall be no privileges created by the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act as to any information acquired by the person licensed pursuant to the Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act when such information pertains to criminal acts or violation of any law.

C. The Licensed Behavioral Practitioner Act shall not be construed to prohibit any licensed person from testifying in court hearings concerning matters of adoption, child abuse, child neglect, battery, or matters pertaining to the welfare of children or from seeking collaboration or consultation with professional colleagues or administrative superiors on behalf of this client.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 133, § 10, emerg. eff. April 28, 1999.