(a) Except as otherwise provided by this part, the secretary of state shall not disclose the confidential address or any other information contained within a program participant's file, other than the substitute address designated by the secretary of state, except under the following circumstances:

(1) If directed by a court order signed by a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction;

(2) Upon written request, on a form prepared by the secretary of state, by the chief law enforcement officer of a county or municipality, or an authorized representative of the Tennessee bureau of investigation, Tennessee highway patrol, or a federal law enforcement agency, if related to an ongoing official investigation; or

(3) Upon written request, on a form prepared by the secretary of state, by a director of a state or federal agency, if the secretary of state determines that there exists a bona fide legal or administrative requirement of the use of the program participant's confidential address such that the director is unable to fulfill legal duties and obligations without the confidential address.

(b) Upon written request by the director of a state or federal agency, the chief law enforcement officer of a county or municipality, or an authorized representative of the Tennessee bureau of investigation, Tennessee highway patrol, or a federal law enforcement agency who intends to request access to an individual's confidential address under this section, or any other information contained within a program participant's file, the secretary of state shall confirm whether the individual is a program participant but shall not disclose any additional information concerning the program participant until such time as a written request for disclosure as described in this section is granted. Subject to subsections (d) and (e), a determination regarding such a written request shall be made by the secretary within three (3) business days following receipt of a completed request for disclosure.

(c) When making a request for the disclosure of the program participant's confidential address, or any other information contained within a program participant's file, whether before a court of law or by written request to the secretary of state, the party or parties requesting the disclosure must show by clear and convincing evidence that the disclosure of the confidential address or other records is necessary for a legitimate governmental purpose that cannot otherwise be accomplished and which outweighs the risk of harm to the program participant.

(d) Written requests for disclosure of the program participant's confidential address, or any other information contained within a program participant's file, shall be submitted to the office of the secretary of state, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state, for consideration by the secretary or the secretary's designee. Except for a request from a law enforcement agency under subdivision (a)(2), the secretary shall provide the program participant with notice of the requested disclosure and an opportunity to respond in writing to the request stating any objections to the disclosure. The secretary shall issue a determination in writing, which shall be provided to both the requesting party and the program participant, setting out the information that is to be disclosed and the reason for the disclosure.

(e) Any party may, within ten (10) business days of the date of the secretary's decision, appeal the secretary's decision by filing with the office of the secretary of state a written request for a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, on a form prescribed by the secretary of state. The program participant, or the program participant's parent or fiduciary if applicable, shall have an opportunity to present evidence at the contested case hearing regarding the potential harm to the safety of the program participant if the program participant's confidential address, or any other information contained in the program participant's file, is disclosed. If no request for appeal is filed within ten (10) business days of the secretary's decision, then the secretary's decision shall be implemented according to its terms.

(f) Disclosure of a participant's confidential address, or any other information contained within a program participant's file, under this section shall be limited under the terms of the court's order or the secretary's determination to ensure that the disclosure and dissemination of the confidential address will be no greater than necessary for the specific purpose for which it was requested.

(g) Individuals granted access to the program participant's confidential information, whether by court order or by virtue of the individual's position as an employee of a governmental entity, are prohibited from knowingly disclosing such information to unauthorized individuals, except as otherwise required by law.

(h) No person shall knowingly obtain a program participant's confidential address or telephone number from any governmental agency knowing that the person is not authorized to obtain the address information.

(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed as to prevent the secretary of state from granting a request for disclosure to a state or local government agency pursuant to this part upon receipt of a program participant's written and notarized consent to do so.