§1862. Confidentiality; information sharing

A. If a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) conference is formed under this statute and the district attorney and chief law enforcement agency in the parish participate, the MDT may obtain information from any public agency, department, or other organization, including material otherwise made confidential or privileged. Any confidential or privileged material or information obtained by an MDT member shall be disclosed only as necessary to other persons providing services to the same victim, and shall not be disclosed to an agency or individual outside of the family justice center unless otherwise required by law or court order.

B. The files, reports, records, communications, working papers, or any other material or information used or developed in providing services to a victim at the family justice center are confidential and not subject to the Public Records Law. Disclosure may be made only to another person providing services at the family justice center to the same victim and who needs access to the information or material in order to perform his duties and provide services to the victim consistent with the provisions of this Chapter.

C.(1) Each family justice center shall maintain a client consent policy and shall comply with all state and federal laws protecting the confidentiality rights and identity of the victim. Each family justice center shall have a designated privacy officer to develop and oversee privacy policies and procedures consistent with state and federal privacy laws.

(2) Each family justice center is required to obtain informed, written, and reasonably time-limited consent from the victim before sharing information obtained from the victim with any staff member, agency partner, or personnel providing services at the family justice center except as provided by the following:

(a) A family justice center is not required to obtain consent from the victim before sharing information obtained from the victim with any staff member, agency partner, or personnel who is also a mandatory reporter, a peace officer, or a member of the prosecuting team who is required by law to report or disclose specific information or incidents.

(b) Each family justice center is required to inform the victim that the information shared with staff members, partner agencies, or other personnel at the family justice center may be shared with law enforcement professionals without the victim's consent if there is a mandatory duty to report as required by law or the victim is a danger to himself or others. Each family justice center shall obtain written acknowledgment from the victim that the victim has been informed of this policy.

(3) Consent by the victim to share information within a family justice center pursuant to the provisions of this Section is not a universal waiver of any existing evidentiary privilege or confidentiality provision provided by law.

(4) Any oral or written communication or any document authorized by the victim to be shared for the purposes of enhancing safety and providing more effective and efficient services to the victim shall not be disclosed to any third party, unless that third-party disclosure is authorized by the victim, or required by other state or federal law or by court order.

D. Each family justice center shall maintain a formal training program with mandatory training of not less than eight hours per year for all persons providing services at the family justice center, including but not limited to training on evidentiary privileges, confidentiality provisions, information sharing, risk assessment, safety planning, victim advocacy, and high-risk case response.

Acts 2015, No. 327, §1.