§2600-E. Inspection or copying of record; procedure

1.  Request for record; redaction.  When the board receives a request to inspect or copy all or part of the record of an applicant or licensee, the board shall redact information that is not public before making the record available for inspection or copying.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

2.  Notice and opportunity to review.  When the board acknowledges a request to inspect or copy an applicant's or a licensee's record as required by Title 1, section 408‑A, subsection 3, the board shall send a notice to the applicant or licensee at the applicant's or licensee's last address on file with the board explaining that the request has been made and that the applicant or licensee may review the redacted record before it is made available for inspection or copying. The acknowledgment to the requester must include a description of the review process provided to the applicant or licensee pursuant to this section, including the fact that all or part of the record may be withheld if the board finds that disclosure of all or part of the redacted record creates a potential risk to the applicant's or licensee's personal safety or the personal safety of any 3rd party. The applicant or licensee has 10 business days from the date the board sends the notice to request the opportunity to review the redacted record. If the applicant or licensee so requests, the board shall send a copy of the redacted record to the applicant or licensee for review. The board shall make the redacted record available to the requester for inspection or copying 10 business days after sending the redacted record to the applicant or licensee for review unless the board receives a petition from the applicant or licensee under subsection 4.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

3.  Reasonable costs.  Reasonable costs related to the review of a record by the applicant or licensee are considered part of the board's costs to make the redacted record available for inspection or copying under subsection 2 and may be charged to the requester.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

4.  Action based on personal safety.  An applicant or licensee may petition the board to withhold the release of all or part of a record under subsection 2 based on the potential risk to the applicant's or licensee's personal safety or the personal safety of any 3rd party if the record is disclosed to the public. The applicant or licensee must petition the board to withhold all or part of the record within 10 business days after the board sends the applicant or licensee the redacted record. The petition must include an explanation of the potential safety risks and a list of items requested to be withheld. Within 60 days of receiving the petition, the board shall notify the applicant or licensee of its decision on the petition. If the applicant or licensee disagrees with the board's decision, the applicant or licensee may file a petition in Superior Court to enjoin the release of the record under subsection 5.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

5.  Injunction based on personal safety.  An applicant or licensee may bring an action in Superior Court to enjoin the board from releasing all or part of a record under subsection 2 based on the potential risk to the applicant's or licensee's personal safety or the personal safety of any 3rd party if the record is disclosed to the public. The applicant or licensee must file the action within 10 business days after the board notifies the applicant or licensee under subsection 4 that the board will release all or part of the redacted record to the requester. The applicant or licensee shall immediately provide written notice to the board that the action has been filed, and the board may not make the record available for inspection or copying until the action is resolved.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

6.  Hearing.  The hearing on an action filed under subsection 5 may be advanced on the docket and receive priority over other cases when the court determines that the interests of justice so require.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

7.  Application.  This section does not apply to requests for records from other governmental licensing or disciplinary authorities or from any health care providers located within or outside this State that are concerned with granting, limiting or denying an applicant's or licensee's employment or privileges.

[PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 2019, c. 499, §2 (NEW).