1227 Subpoenas and Testifying in Court Concerning Information Not Otherwise Authorized to be Disclosed - Since all information relative to a client is by law confidential and since clients are advised that any information they reveal is held confidential, any information received by the worker or other person connected with the agency, is by statute, in the nature of a privileged communication just as is the information received by an attorney or physician from his client, or received by a minister in the performance of his function as a spiritual advisor.
The Legal Division must be notified immediately of a subpoena to produce records or of a court order to testify; such notice should be in writing whenever time permits. A staff member who is subpoenaed or whose records are subpoenaed, unless otherwise instructed by the Legal Division, should make appearance at the time and place stated in the subpoena, and should bring the records subpoenaed with him, if any. After being sworn in he should make the following statement to the court in response to the first material question: "
"I am attending the court’s hearing as a result of a subpoena. The law and DCF policy require that I call the court’s attention to the laws and regulations limiting use and disclosure of information concerning public assistance. K.S.A. 39-709b limits the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants and recipients of assistance to purposes directly connected with the administration of the assistance program, unless there is written consent given by the client. These federal laws and regulations also similarly limit use and disclosure:
Section 402(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the Social Security Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 602(a)(1)(A)(iv) (the Temporary Assistance to Families Program);
Section 1902(a)(7) of the Social Security Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396a(a)(7), and 42 C.F.R. Sec. 431.300, et seq. (the Medicaid Program); and
Section 11(e)(8) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, codified at 7 U.S.C. Sec. 2020(e)(8), and 7 C.F.R. Sec. 272.1(c)(1) (the Food Assistance Program)."
The witness will submit the above statement in its entirety to the court and a copy to the attorney and will testify further according to the ruling and instructions of the court. Testifying and releasing confidential information when ordered to do so directly by a judge in an in-court setting is not considered unauthorized disclosure of information per 1229.
1228 Questions Concerning Disclosure of Information - When there is some question as to the disclosure of information to another DCF employee, the client or other nonagency personnel, the question is to be referred to the legal division for clearance.
1229 Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Information - An DCF employee who discloses confidential information concerning an applicant or recipient (present and past) in violation of the provisions set forth in 1220 and subsections shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action (official reprimand, suspension, demotion, dismissal, etc.).
Further, any individual who discloses confidential information concerning an applicant or recipient (present, past) in violation of the provisions set forth in 1220 and subsections shall be subject to criminal prosecution, and if convicted, may be fined up to $1,000 and/or sentenced to the county jail for a period not to exceed six months.