44-550b. Records open to public inspection, exceptions. (a) All records provided to be maintained under K.S.A. 44-550, and amendments thereto, and not withstanding the provisions of K.S.A. 45-215 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall be open to public inspection, except:

(1) Records relating to financial information submitted by an employer to qualify as a self-insurer pursuant to K.S.A 44-532, and amendments thereto;

(2) records which relate to utilization review or peer review conducted pursuant to K.S.A. 44-510j, and amendments thereto, shall not be disclosed except to the health care provider and as otherwise specifically provided by the workers compensation act;

(3) records relating to private premises safety inspections;

(4) medical records, forms collected pursuant to K.S.A. 44-567(b), and amendments thereto, accident reports maintained under K.S.A. 44-550, and amendments thereto, and social security numbers pertaining to an individual which shall not be disclosed except:

(A) Upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction;

(B) to the employer, its insurance carrier or its representative, from whom a worker seeks workers compensation benefits;

(C) to the division of workers compensation for its own purposes;

(D) to federal or state governmental agencies for purposes of fraud and abuse investigations and child support enforcement, except that such disclosure shall not then be open to public inspection;

(E) to an employer in connection with any application for employment to an employer, its insurance carrier or representatives providing: (i) A conditional offer of employment has been made; and (ii) the request for records includes a signed release by the individual, identifies the job conditionally offered by the employer and is submitted in writing, either by mail or electronic means. Requests relating to an individual under this subsection shall be considered a record to be maintained and open to public inspection under K.S.A. 44-550, and amendments thereto, except social security numbers;

(F) to the workers compensation fund for its own purposes; and

(G) to the worker upon written release by the worker.

(b) This section shall be part of and supplemental to the workers compensation act.

History: L. 1984, ch. 187, § 12; L. 1993, ch. 286, § 52; L. 1997, ch. 125, § 11; L. 2000, ch. 160, § 14; L. 2002, ch. 122, § 4; L. 2016, ch. 98, § 4; July 1.