§ 39-21.1-4. Confidentiality. Automatic number identification (ANI) and automatic location identification (ALI) information that consists of the name, address, and telephone numbers of telephone subscribers shall be confidential. Dissemination of the information contained in the 911 automatic number and automatic location data base is prohibited except for the following purposes:

(1) The information will be provided to the public safety answering point (PSAP) on a call-by-call basis only for the purpose of handling emergency calls, or for training and any permanent record of the information shall be secured by the public safety answering points and disposed of in a manner which will retain that security except as otherwise required by applicable law.

(2) All telephone calls and telephone call transmissions received pursuant to this chapter and all tapes containing records of telephone calls shall remain confidential and used only for the purpose of handling emergency calls and for public safety purposes as may be needed for law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue or other emergency services. The calls shall not be released to any other parties without the written consent of the person whose voice is recorded, or upon order of the court.

(3) The ALI - ANI Database may be provided to all city, state and town emergency management agencies, fire departments and police departments of the state of Rhode Island for the purposes of, and restricted to, establishing systems of emergency public warning. ALI - ANI Database shall be defined as automatic location identification and automatic number identification information identifying the land-line telephone numbers and addresses (but shall not include the names, whether listed, unlisted or unpublished) of subscribers to telephone common carrier services in the state.

(4) Telephone numbers, including listed, unlisted and unpublished numbers, and street numbers and addresses (excluding individual names), if contained within the Rhode Island E-911 ALI - ANI Database, may be provided by Rhode Island E-911, on a reasonable basis as determined by Rhode Island E-911 to city, state and town emergency management agencies, fire departments and police departments for the sole purpose of allowing individual city, state or town emergency management agency, fire department, and/or police department to warn local residents of imminent and significant threats to public safety.

(5) The city or town local emergency warning system ALI - ANI Database shall be located in a restricted access and secured facility located within the local emergency management office, fire department and/or police department. Additionally the local emergency warning system ALI - ANI Database shall be secure from unauthorized access and shall be accessible only by the city or town emergency management director, fire chief or police chief and no more than three (3) department members (who shall be known as emergency warning officers) appointed in writing by the respective department director or chief with a copy of the appointment which includes the name, title, and duration of appointment sent to Rhode Island E-911. The activation of the local emergency warning system can only be approved and authorized by the department director or chief or his/her authorized emergency warning officer any access to the local ALI - ANI data base shall be documented by use of a secure electronic log that records such access and which shall be maintained for a period of no less than twelve (12) months. Any unauthorized and/or inappropriate access of the local emergency warning system ALI - ANI Database is to be reported immediately in writing to Rhode Island E-911.

(6) A violation of the provisions of this section shall be a criminal offense punishable by up to one year imprisonment and/or a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).

History of Section. (P.L. 1986, ch. 152, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 236, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 77, § 1; P.L. 1996, ch. 184, § 1; P.L. 2006, ch. 228, § 1.)