65-6410. Confidential information and communications; exceptions. (a) A person licensed under the marriage and family therapists licensure act and employees and professional associates of the person shall not be required to disclose any information that the person, employee or associate may have acquired in rendering marriage and family therapy services, unless:

(1) Disclosure is required by other state laws;

(2) failure to disclose the information presents a clear and present danger to the health or safety of an individual;

(3) the person, employee or associate is a party defendant to a civil, criminal or disciplinary action arising from the therapy, in which case a waiver of the privilege accorded by this section is limited to that action;

(4) the client is a defendant in a criminal proceeding and the use of the privilege would violate the defendant's right to a compulsory process or the right to present testimony and witnesses in that person's behalf; or

(5) a client agrees to a waiver of the privilege accorded by this section, and in circumstances where more than one person in a family is receiving therapy, each such family member agrees to the waiver. Absent a waiver from each family member, a marriage and family therapist shall not disclose information received from a family member.

(b) Nothing in this section or in this act shall be construed to prohibit any person licensed under the marriage and family therapist licensure act from testifying in court hearings concerning matters of adult abuse, adoption, child abuse, child neglect, or other matters pertaining to the welfare of children or from seeking collaboration or consultation with professional colleagues or administrative superiors, or both, on behalf of a client. There is no privilege under this section for information which is required to be reported to a public official.

History: L. 1991, ch. 114, § 10; L. 1996, ch. 153, § 25; L. 1999, ch. 117, § 23; July 1, 2000.