39-759. Unlawful acts relating to information concerning absent parents; penalty. (a) With respect to information obtained by the secretary under K.S.A. 39-758, 39-7,136, 39-7,143 or 39-7,150, and amendments thereto, or K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 75-5366 and 75-5667, and amendments thereto, any person who willfully requests, obtains or seeks to obtain confidential information except in accordance with any law permitting such disclosure shall be guilty of a class B nonperson misdemeanor. With respect to information obtained by the secretary under K.S.A. 39-758, 39-7,136, 39-7,143 or 39-7,150, and amendments thereto, or K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 75-5366 and 75-5367, and amendments thereto, any person who willfully requests, obtains or seeks to obtain confidential information under false pretenses or who willfully communicates or seeks to communicate such information to any person except in accordance with any law permitting such disclosure shall be guilty of a severity level 10, nonperson felony. If the offender is an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state, such officer or employee shall be dismissed from office. If the offender's supervisor does not dismiss the offender, such supervisor shall be dismissed from office. Any violation of this subsection by a IV-D contractor or an agent of a IV-D contractor shall be grounds for termination of the IV-D contract and the contract shall be terminated. The provisions of this subsection shall be a complete defense in any civil action concerning such dismissal, termination of the IV-D contract or termination of a contractor's relationship with an individual offender. When the individual is hired as an officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision or hired by a IV-D contractor, such individual shall be given verbal and written notice of the provisions of this subsection. Such individual shall sign a statement stating that such information was received.

(b) The secretary shall safeguard, to the extent required by title IV-D or any other provision of law, any confidential information handled by the secretary. Unauthorized use or disclosure of information relating to proceedings or actions to establish paternity or to establish or enforce a support obligation is prohibited, except that nothing in this provision shall prevent the secretary or the secretary's designees from using or disclosing information, or authorizing use or disclosure of information, as needed in the administration of the IV-D program or as authorized by title IV-D.

The release of information concerning the location of one party to another party against whom a protective order with respect to the former party has been entered is prohibited. The release of information concerning the location of one party to another party is prohibited if the secretary has reason to believe that the release of such information may result in physical or emotional harm to the former party. For purposes of this subsection, "has reason to believe" means that the former party has claimed good cause for refusing to cooperate in IV-D activities, so long as the claim is pending or has been approved. Such good cause shall relate to one of the following: (1) The child was conceived as a result of incest or rape; (2) there are legal proceedings for adoption of the child pending before a court; (3) the custodial parent is currently being assisted by a public or licensed private social agency in determining whether to keep the child or relinquish the child for adoption; (4) there is documented evidence to support the claim that the child may be physically or emotionally harmed; or (5) there is documented evidence to support the claim that the custodial parent may be physically or emotionally harmed so seriously as to reduce the capacity to adequately care for the child.

(c) The provisions of this section shall be in addition to any other prohibition against further disclosure, remedy or sanction provided by law.

History: L. 1976, ch. 210, § 9; L. 1997, ch. 182, § 71; L. 2008, ch. 136, § 3; July 1.