Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 28-3-8 - Confidentiality of Records8.1. All investigations, complaints, reports, records, proceedings and other information received by the commissioner and the board and related to complaints made to the commissioner and the board or investigations conducted by the commissioner or the board pursuant to this rule, including the identity of the complainant or respondent, are confidential and shall not be knowingly and improperly disclosed by any member or former member of the board, the commissioner or staff, except as follows:(a) Upon a finding that probable cause exists to believe that a respondent has violated the provisions of the act, the complaint and all reports, records, non-privileged and non-deliberative materials introduced at any probable cause hearing held pursuant to the complaint are thereafter not confidential: Provided, that the confidentiality of the information shall remain in full force and effect until the respondent has been served with a copy of the statement of charges;(b) Any subsequent hearing held in the matter for the purpose of receiving evidence or the arguments of the parties or their representatives shall be open to the public and all reports, records and non-deliberative materials introduced into evidence at the subsequent hearing, as well as the board's and the commissioner's orders, are not confidential;(c) The complaint as well as the identity of the complainant shall be disclosed to a person named as respondent in any complaint filed immediately upon the respondent's request; or(d) Where the commissioner or board is otherwise required by the provisions of the Act to disclose the information or to proceed in a manner that disclosure is necessary and required to fulfill the requirements.8.2. If, in a specific case, the commissioner or board finds that there is a reasonable likelihood that the dissemination of information or opinion in connection with a pending or imminent proceeding will interfere with a fair hearing or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice, the commissioner or board shall order that all or a portion of the information communicated to the commissioner or the board to cause an investigation and all allegations of violations or misconduct contained in a complaint is confidential, and the person providing the information or filing a complaint is bound to confidentiality until further order of the board.