Source: https://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/la/adlaw/foia/LARS-44-I.htm
Timestamp: 2018-06-20 13:15:54
Document Index: 201022426

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(See Part II for access and general provisions)
A.(1) As used in this Chapter, the phrase "public body" means any branch, department, office, agency, board, commission, district, governing authority, political subdivision, or any committee, subcommittee, advisory board, or task force thereof, or any other instrumentality of state, parish, or municipal government, including a public or quasi-public nonprofit corporation designated as an entity to perform a governmental or proprietary function.
Amended by Acts 1973, No. 135, §1; Acts 1973, Ex.Sess., No. 4, §1; Acts 1978, No. 686, §1; Acts 1979, No. 691, §1; Acts 1980, No. 248, §1; Acts 2001, No. 707, §1, eff. June 25, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 882, §1.
§2. Records involved in legislative investigations
Subject to the proviso set forth in Sub-section B of R.S. 44:3, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to any records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs or copies thereof, in the custody or control of any attorney or counsel whose duties or functions are performed by or under the authority of the legislature and which concern or hold relation to any case, cause, charge or investigation being conducted by or through the legislature, until after the case, cause, charge or investigation has been finally disposed of.
After final disposition, the records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs or copies thereof, are public records and subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
§3.1. Certain records pertaining to terrorist-related activity
Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records containing security procedures, criminal intelligence information pertaining to terrorist-related activity, or threat or vulnerability assessments created, collected, or obtained in the prevention of terrorist-related activity, including but not limited to physical security information, proprietary information, operational plans, and the analysis of such information, or internal security information.
Acts 2003, No. 413, §1, eff. June 18, 2003.
§3.2. Proprietary and trade secret information
A. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of proprietary or trade secret information pertaining to any code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process which is proprietary or trade secret information which has been submitted to a public body by the developer, owner, or manufacturer of a code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process in order to obtain or retain approval of such code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process for sale or use in this state.
B. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require the disclosure of proprietary or trade secret information pertaining to any code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process which has been submitted to a public body in order to facilitate the further research, development, or commercialization of such code, pattern, formula, design, device, method, or process.
C.(1) All records containing proprietary or trade secret information submitted by a developer, owner, or manufacturer to a public body pursuant to Subsection A or B of this Section shall contain a cover sheet that provides in bold type "DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL PROPRIETARY OR TRADE SECRET INFORMATION". The developer, owner, or manufacturer shall clearly mark each instance of information which is, in his opinion, proprietary or trade secret information. However, the determination of whether such information is in fact proprietary or trade secret information shall be made by the custodian within thirty days of a submission; however, if a custodian receives a public records request during the period of thirty days, the determination shall be made within the time period provided in R.S. 44:32(D) and 33(B).
(2) A custodian who receives a request pursuant to this Chapter for any information which has been marked by the developer, owner, or manufacturer as proprietary or trade secret information shall, prior to the disclosure of the information, immediately notify such developer, owner, or manufacturer of the request and of the custodian's determination of whether or not the information so requested is subject to disclosure.
D. General information relating to the identity of the developer, owner, or manufacturer and any agreement or contract that such person or legal entity has entered into with the public body shall be subject to public review.
E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed in a manner as to prevent the public examination or reproduction of any record or part of a record which is not proprietary or trade secret information.
Acts 2004, No. 832, §1, eff. July 12, 2004.
(4)(a) To any records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs, reports of examination, work papers of examiners, including loan write-ups, line sheets, handwritten notes, loan classification documentation, and any other documentation relating to the financial statements of a financial institution's borrowers, or other entity supervised by the office of financial institutions, except as otherwise provided in R.S. 6:103, R.S. 9:3518.1, R.S. 37:1806, R.S. 51:1934, or R.S. 51:2389. This exception shall apply to any financial institution governed by Title 6, supervised entities licensed under Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and those entities licensed and supervised by the office of financial institutions pursuant to Title 37 or 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, including those which are exercising the privileges granted by their charters or licenses, as well as those which have been determined to be insolvent or operating in an unsafe and unsound condition and have lost their deposit insurance coverage, or, for other legal reasons have been closed and placed in conservatorship or receivership by the commissioner of financial institutions, or whose licenses issued under the provisions of Title 9, 37, or 51 have been terminated for any lawful reason.
(b) To copies of items exempted under Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph in the custody or control of the office of financial institutions or any agent or employee of that agency, except as otherwise provided in R.S. 6:103, R.S. 9:3518.1, R.S. 37:1806, R.S. 51:1934, or R.S. 51:2389.
(c) To investigative records of the office of financial institutions which pertain to the application of any person for a charter or license for a new financial institution, and the confidential portion of any application by an entity chartered, licensed, and/or supervised by the office of financial institutions pursuant to Title 6, 9, 37, or 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, except as otherwise provided in R.S. 6:103, R.S. 9:3518.1, R.S. 37:1806, R.S. 51:1934, or R.S. 51:2389.
(5)(a) To any daily reports or endorsements filed by insurance companies doing business in this state with the Louisiana Casualty and Surety Rating Commission in accordance with the laws of this state.
(b) All risk-based capital reports filed with the Department of Insurance pursuant to R.S. 22:860 through 869.
(14) To any records of the Department of Health and Human Resources, office of preventive and public health services, which records contain any technical information pertaining to any formula, method, or process which is a trade secret which has been submitted by any manufacturer of a product or mechanical sewage treatment plant in order to obtain or retain approval of such product for sale or use in this state or in order to assist said office in carrying out and enforcing the sanitary laws and regulations of the state.
(16) To the following records of a board or institution of higher learning, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or their successors, in conjunction with the Board of Regents, for programs and institutions under their supervision and management, unless access to the records is specifically required by state or federal statute or is ordered by a court under rules of discovery:
(29) To any records, writings, accounts, recordings, letters, exhibits, data, pictures, drawings, charts, photographs, or copies or memoranda thereof, and any report or reports concerning the fitness of any person to receive or continue to hold a license to practice as a psychologist in the custody or control of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists; however, any action taken by the board and any legal grounds upon which such action is based, relative to the fitness of any person to receive or continue to hold a license to practice as a psychologist shall be a public record, and statistical reports which do not reveal the identity of any licensed psychologist may be released to the public.
(31) To proprietary information provided to a communications district by a service provider, as defined in R.S. 33:9106(A)(4). "Proprietary information" as used in this Paragraph shall mean customer telephone numbers, information relating to the quantity, technical destination, location, and amount of use of a telecommunications service subscribed to by any customer of a telecommunications carrier, and information that is made available to the carrier by the customer solely by virtue of the carrier-customer relationship.
(36) To terms and conditions of the rebate agreement, rebate amounts, percent of rebate, manufacturer's pricing, and supplemental rebates which are contained in records of the Department of Health and Hospitals and its agents with respect to supplemental rebate negotiations for prescription drug coverage by the Medicaid Program and which are prepared pursuant to a supplemental rebate agreement, provided that the total amount of supplemental rebates recouped by the department shall be a public record. Such information shall be considered proprietary and confidential, provided that such information shall be subject to review by the legislative auditor and the legislative fiscal officer.
(37) To any protected health information as defined in R.S. 29:762 pursuant to the Louisiana Public Health Emergency Act.
Amended by Acts 1950, No. 155, §1; Acts 1976, No. 133, §1, eff. July 16, 1976; Acts 1979, No. 639, §1; Acts 1981, No. 898, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 1981; Acts 1982, No. 387, §1; Acts 1982, No. 867, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 590, §2, eff. July 14, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 664, §1, eff. July 13, 1984; Acts 1985, No. 62, §1; Acts 1986, No. 215, §1; Acts 1986, No. 784, §1; Acts 1987, No. 732, §1; Acts 1988, No. 296, §1; Acts 1988, No. 102, §1, eff. June 29, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 229, §2; Acts 1989, No. 533, §1; Acts 1990, No. 59, §2, eff. June 26, 1990; Acts 1990, No. 67, §1; Acts 1990, No. 769, §1; Acts 1990, No. 831, §1, eff. July 24, 1990; Acts 1991, No. 167, §1; Acts 1991, No. 477, §1, eff. July 15, 1991; Acts 1991, No. 515, §2; Acts 1991, No. 810, §2; Acts 1992, No. 878, §2; Acts 1993, No. 837, §2, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 1203, §2, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 366, §4; Acts 1999, No. 736, §2; Acts 1999, No. 793, §2; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 48, §1, eff. April 17, 2000; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 58, §1; Acts 2001, No. 451, §4, eff. Jan. 12, 2004; Acts 2001, No. 481, §1; Acts 2001, No. 534, §1, eff. June 21, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 581, §1; Acts 2001, No. 748, §1; Acts 2001, No. 789, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 798, §2; Acts 2001, No. 1102, §9; Acts 2001, No. 1107, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 124, §1, eff. April 23, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 658, §1, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 987, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1055, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1206, §2; Acts 2004, No. 149, §1, eff. June 10, 2004.
NOTE: See Acts 2001, No. 451, §8(A), relative to effective date of R.S. 44:4(23) as amended in §4 of the Act.
(1) R.S. 3:552.24, 556.10, 557.12, 558.10, 559.9, 750, 1313, 1367, 1901, 3204, 3221, 3370, 3421, 3706, 4021, 4110
(5) R.S. 13:1905, 2593, 3715.3, 3715.4, 3734, 4687, 5108.1, 5304
(6) R.S. 14:403, 403.1, 403.2, 403.5
(7) R.S. 15:242, 440.6, 477.2, 549, 570(F), 574.12, 578.1, 616, 840.1, 1176, 1204.1
(8) R.S. 17:7.2, 46, 47, 334, 391.4, 500.2, 1175, 1202, 1237, 1252, 1952, 1989.7, 2047, 2048.31, 3099, 3136, 3390, 3773, 3884
(9) R.S. 18:43, 44, 114, 116, 154, 1308, 1491.5, 1495.3, 1511.8
(10) R.S. 22:2, 13, 76, 162.1, 207, 233, 756.1, 769, 867, 1008, 1210.22, 1247.1, 1302, 1405, 1409, 1451.3, 1469, 2004, 3011, 3034, 3046
(11) R.S. 23:1177, 1291, 1292, 1293, 1306, 1660, 1671
(12) R.S. 24:513, 513.1, 513.3, 518
(13) R.S. 26:921
(14) R.S. 27:13, 21, 22, 25, 45, 61, 237
(15) R.S. 28:56, 391, 398
(15.1) R.S. 29:765
(16) R.S. 30:10.1, 209.1, 213, 215, 907, 908, 916, 2030, 2074, 2351, 2351.54, 2564
(17) R.S. 32:398, 707.2, 1254
(18) R.S. 33:1334, 2182, 2428, 9109, 9128
(19) R.S. 34:340.21, 1005
(20) R.S. 36:108
(21) R.S. 37:74, 86, 90, 147, 691, 763, 763.1, 781, 920.1, 969.1, 1277, 1278, 1285, 1326, 1395.1, 1400, 1518, 1747, 1806, 2156.1, 3481, 3507.1
(22) R.S. 38:2212.1, 2220.3, 3053, 3104
(23) R.S. 39:294, 1435
(24) R.S. 40:3.1, 31.14, 31.27, 39.1, 41, 73, 526, 528, 1098.8, 1232.7, 1299.6, 1299.35.10, 1299.44, 1299.85, 1299.87, 1300.14, 1300.54, 1379.3, 2009.8, 2009.14, 2010.5, 2017.9, 2018, 2019, 2106, 2109.1, 2138, 2532, 2723
(25) R.S. 42:6.1, 57, 1111, 1116.1, 1141, 1158
(26) R.S. 44:19, 408, 425
(27) R.S. 46:56, 236.1, 236.9, 236.10, 284, 286.1, 439.1, 446.1, 1073, 1355, 1806, 1844, 1845, 1923, 2124.1, 2134, 2356, 2416, 2603, 2625, 2685
(28) R.S. 47:15, 349, 633.6, 1508, 1516, 1837, 2327, 2605, 9006
(29) R.S. 48:255.1
(30) R.S. 49:956, 997, 1055
(31) R.S. 51:705, 706, 936, 1404, 1926, 1934, 2182, 2262, 2318, 2389
(32) R.S. 56:301.4, 306.5, 309.4, 637
(33) C.C.P. Art. 891, 1426
(34) C.Cr.P. Art. 103, 877, 894
(35) Ch.C. Arts. 328, 404, 412, 424.6, 424.9, 441, 543, 545, 615, 616, 616.1, 663, 888, 891, 893, 920, 1007, 1106, 1107, 1185, 1186, 1187, 1207, 1213, 1229, 1235, 1252, 1273, 1283.5, 1283.10, 1416, 1453, and 1568
Acts 2001, No. 882, §1; Acts 2003, No. 221, §3, eff. June 5, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 283, §2; Acts 2003, No. 540, §2, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 667, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1206, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1245, §2; Acts 2004, No. 699, §1; Acts 2004, No. 865, §3, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 63, §2; Acts 2005, No. 119, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2006; Acts 2005, No. 250, §2.
NOTE: See also R.S. 45:844.55(D) added by Acts 2004, No. 736.
NOTE: See Acts 2005, No. 119, §5, eff. June 21, 2005, relative to implementation of Act.
§5. Records in custody of governor
A. This Chapter shall not apply to any of the books, records, writings, accounts, letters, letter books, photographs or copies thereof, ordinarily kept in the custody or control of the governor in the usual course of the duties and business of his office. However, the provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to any agency transferred or placed within the office of the governor or transferred or placed within any agency within the office of the governor by R.S. 36:4(V) and 4.1.
B. The provisions of this Section shall not prevent any person otherwise herein authorized so to do from examining and copying any books, records, papers, accounts, or other documents pertaining to any money or monies or any financial transactions in the control of or handled by or through the governor.
Acts 2001, No. 8, §13, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 9, §6, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 850, §2.
§6. Completed reports of the Legislative Auditor
The completed reports of audits of the Legislative Auditor shall be public records and shall be available at the office of the Legislative Auditor three days after the completion of the reports.
Amended by Acts 1982, No. 117, §1.
§7. Hospital records
A. Except as provided in Subsections B, C, and E of this Section and R.S. 44:17, the charts, records, reports, documents, and other memoranda prepared by physicians, surgeons, psychiatrists, nurses, and employees in the public hospitals of Louisiana, adult or juvenile correctional institutions, public mental health centers, and public schools for the mentally deficient to record or indicate the past or present condition, sickness or disease, physical or mental, of the patients treated in the hospitals are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter, except the provisions of R.S. 44:36 and 39. Nothing herein shall prevent hospitals from providing necessary reports pursuant to R.S. 22:213.2, R.S. 29:765, R.S. 40:2019, and R.S. 44:17, nor shall any liability arise from the good faith compliance therewith.
B. The governing authority of each public hospital, adult or juvenile correctional institution, public mental health center or public state school for the mentally deficient, may make and enforce rules under which these charts, records, reports, documents or other memoranda may be exhibited, or copied by or for persons legitimately and properly interested in the disease, physical or mental, or in the condition of patients.
C. Whenever the past or present condition, sickness or disease, physical or mental, of any patient treated in any hospital, adult or juvenile correctional institution, center or school, set forth in Subsection A of this Section shall be at issue or relevant in any judicial proceeding, the charts, records, reports, documents and other memoranda referred to in said Subsection A shall be subject to discovery, subpoena and introduction into evidence in accordance with the general law of the state relating to discovery, subpoena and introduction into evidence of records and documents.
E. The governing authority of each public hospital, adult or juvenile correctional institution, public mental health center, or public state school for the mentally deficient, shall make available for inspection and copying and shall release upon request an abstract of the patient's record in which all identifying data has been properly encoded to assure confidentiality relating to patients treated in such institutions to the Louisiana cancer registry program established pursuant to R.S. 40:1229.70 et seq.
F. All records of interviews, health surveys, questionnaires, laboratory and clinical data, reports, statements, notes, and memoranda, which contain identifying characteristics of research subjects, hereinafter referred to as "confidential data", and which are procured and prepared by employees of public universities, medical schools, and colleges for the purpose of research, and acting in accordance with institutional Internal Review Board policy and procedures for research involving human subjects, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter and shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1) No part of the confidential data shall be available for subpoena nor shall it be disclosed, discoverable, or be compelled to be produced in any civil, criminal, administrative, or other proceeding, nor shall such records be deemed admissible as evidence in any civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding, or other tribunal or court for any reason.
(2) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the publishing of data that does not identify individuals or groups which have been assured confidentiality of identification.
(3) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the publication of results of the research that maintains the confidentiality of the identification of the individual or group that is the subject of research pursuant to this Section.
(4) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the voluntary disclosure of identifying characteristics of research subjects provided the researcher obtains the consent of the individuals so identified prior to the release of the information.
Amended by Acts 1962, No. 112, §1; Acts 1974, No. 315, §1; Acts 1975, No. 679, §1; Acts 1978, No. 660, §3; Acts 1979, No. 496, §1; Acts 1981, No. 417, §1; Acts 1991, No. 427, §2; Acts 1991, No. 659, §2; Acts 1995, No. 521, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 890, §1, eff. July 10, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 736, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1206, §2.
NOTE: See Acts 1997, No. 890, §2, relative to retroactivity.
§8. Louisiana office building corporation, special provisions
A. The private, nonprofit corporation known as the Louisiana Office Building Corporation, incorporated in the parish of East Baton Rouge on June 30, 1965, is hereby declared to be a quasi-public corporation. All papers, documents, contracts, legal agreements, correspondence, minutes of meetings and any other record whatsoever of said corporation are hereby declared to be matters of public record, and shall be open to inspection by state officials and employees, members of the Legislature and legislative staff personnel and the general public. The officers, members of the board of directors, agents and employees of said corporation are hereby authorized and directed to grant access to any record of said corporation upon request. The procedure for access to records under the authority of this Section shall be in keeping with the general provisions for access to public records contained in Chapter I of this Title.
B. All officers, directors and employees of the Louisiana Office Building Corporation who are also elected officials of the State of Louisiana shall be subject to the provisions of the code of ethics for state elected officials contained in R.S. 42:1141-1148 with reference to actions taken in their capacities as such officers, directors or employees of the said corporation. All other officers, directors and employees of the corporation shall be subject to the provisions of the code of ethics for state employees contained in R.S. 42:1111-1123 to the same extent as any state employees.
C. All books and records of the Louisiana Office Building Corporation shall be subject to audit and review by the Legislative Auditor to the same extent as all other state departments or agencies.
Added by Acts 1966, No. 429, §§1 to 3.
(3)(a) The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information may charge a processing fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars for the expungement of any record of arrest when ordered to do so by the court in compliance with the provisions of this Section.
F. For investigative purposes only, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections may maintain a confidential, nonpublic record of the arrest and disposition. The information contained in this record may be released, upon specific request therefor and on a confidential basis, to any law enforcement agency, criminal justice agency, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, or the Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission. The receiving law enforcement agency, criminal justice agency, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, or the Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission shall maintain the confidentiality of such record.
G. "Expungement" means removal of a record from public access but does not mean destruction of the record. An expunged record is confidential, but remains available for use by law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, the Louisiana State Board of Nursing, the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry, the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, or the Emergency Medical Services Certification Commission.
I. Except to those agencies listed in Subsection G of this Section, no person whose record of arrest and conviction has been expunged pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be required to disclose that he was arrested or convicted for the subject offense or that the record of the arrest and conviction has been expunged, unless otherwise provided in this Section.
Added by Acts 1970, No. 445, §1. Amended by Acts 1972, No. 715, §§2, 3; Acts 1974, No. 531, §1; Acts 1976, No. 678, §1; Acts 1978, No. 570, §1; Acts 1981, No. 936, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 1981; Acts 1985, No. 852, §1; Acts 1989, No. 606, §1; Acts 1995, No. 295, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1251, §3; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 5, §2, eff. April 23, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1296, §5, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1111, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1206, §2; Acts 2003, No. 1043, §1; Acts 2004, No. 797, §2, eff. July 8, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 53, §1.
§10. Confidential nature of documents and proceedings of judiciary commission
All documents filed with, and evidence and proceedings before the judiciary commission are confidential. The record filed by the commission with the supreme court and proceedings before the supreme court are not confidential.
Added by Acts 1975, No. 55, §1.
§11. Confidential nature of certain personnel records
Added by Acts 1982, No. 24, §1, eff. July 9, 1982; Acts 1987, No. 371, §1; Acts 1988, No. 591, §1; Acts 1999, No. 371, §1; Acts 2003, No. 326, §1, eff. June 13, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 342, §1.
§12. Medical records of persons covered by the Office of Group Benefits programs
A. All medical records, claim forms, life insurance applications, requests for the payment of benefits, and all other health records of employees and dependents enrolled in the Office of Group Benefits programs pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 42:821 or R.S. 42:851, or an employee benefit plan or program of a political subdivision, which are in the custody or control of the Office of Group Benefits, the board of trustees of a program of a political subdivision, a plan administrator, or any duly appointed representative are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
B. All other records pertaining to such programs in the custody or control of the Office of Group Benefits, the board of trustees of a program of a political subdivision, a plan administrator, or a duly appointed representative of the Office of Group Benefits or a program of a political subdivision are subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
C. All books and records of the Office of Group Benefits shall be subject to audit and review by the legislative auditor to the same extent as all other state departments or agencies.
Added by Acts 1982, No. 102, §1. Acts 1986, No. 866, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1178, §6, eff. June 29, 2001.
§13. Registration records and other records of use maintained by libraries
§14. Insurance, health and accident; list of insured to be provided to department
A. Every person authorized to issue a hospital or medical expense policy, a hospital or medical service contract, an employee welfare benefit plan, a health and accident insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type in this state, including a group insurance plan, a self insurance plan, and the Louisiana State Employees Uniform Group Benefits Program, shall provide to the Department of Health and Hospitals information on their insureds, either in the form of a printed list, a computer printout, or electronic or data processing tapes, pursuant to rules and regulations established by the secretary, so that the department can determine if any of the insureds are persons who have received services from the department and on whose behalf the department may be entitled to receive insurance benefits. This information shall be provided monthly and once received by the department shall be confidential information in the same manner as other confidential information of the department.
B. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any insured whose indemnity policy benefits pay less than twenty-five dollars a day in hospital or medical benefits.
Acts 1986, No. 866, §2; HCR No. 211, 1988 R.S., eff. July 8, 1988.
§15. Medical records of persons applying for disability retirement through any state or statewide public retirement system or pension plan or fund
A. All medical records, application forms, doctor's reports and evaluations, agency certifications, and all other health records of persons applying for disability retirement from any state or statewide public retirement system or pension plan or fund pursuant to the provisions of the applicable laws governing disability retirement for these systems, plans, or funds, and all regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, which are in the custody or control of the board of trustees of any state or statewide public retirement system or pension plan or fund or any duly appointed representative thereof, are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
B. All other records pertaining to membership in or retirement under any state or statewide public retirement system or pension plan or fund which are in the custody or control of the board of trustees of any state or statewide public retirement system or pension plan or fund or any duly appointed representative thereof, are subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
Added by Acts 1988, No. 295, §1, eff. July 7, 1988.
§16. Personal data records for certain members of public retirement systems, plans, or funds
A. All records of retired members of public retirement systems, plans, or funds or of members who are participating in or who have participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter except for the amount of the retired member's retirement allowance, final average compensation, and years of creditable service, and the names of the agencies with which he was employed and the dates of such employment.
B. The exemption for records of retired members of the public retirement systems, plans, or funds or members who are participating in or who have participated in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan provided in Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to requests for such records by members of the Louisiana Legislature, by any state agency or employer reporting information to the public retirement systems, plans, or funds, or by any association of individuals receiving a retirement allowance or benefit from the public retirement systems, plans, or funds.
Acts 1991, No. 365, §1; Acts 1992, No. 945, §1; Acts 1995, No. 271, §1, eff. July 1, 1995.
§18. Geophysical survey information
All information and records of geophysical or geological surveys furnished to the State Mineral Board or the office of mineral resources pursuant to R.S. 30:213 shall be confidential and exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §2.
§19. Autopsy photographs, video, and other visual images
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, photographs, video, or other visual images, in whatever form, of or relating to an autopsy conducted under the authority of the office of the coroner shall be confidential, are deemed not to be public records, and shall not be released by the office of the coroner or any officer, employee, or agent thereof except as otherwise provided in this Section.
B. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the release of autopsy photographs, video, or other visual images, in whatever form, of or relating to an autopsy conducted under the authority of the office of the coroner as follows:
(1) To a family member of the deceased or his designee;
(2) To the succession representative of the deceased's estate or his designee;
(3) To a law enforcement agency, for official use only; or
(4) As directed by a court order or subpoena.
C. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the inspection of photographs, video, or other visual images, in whatever form, of or relating to an autopsy.
Acts 2001, No. 117, §1.
§20. Records of discharge from armed forces
A. Upon the presentation of the discharge certificate or other evidence, the clerks of court of the several parishes and the register of conveyances of the parish of Orleans shall record in their records without charge, each discharge certificate or other evidence of honorable separation from the armed forces of the United States of men and women who have served in the forces. It shall not be necessary to retain original discharge papers in the archives of the office.
B. Any discharge certificate or other evidence of honorable separation from the armed forces of the United States filed on or after July 1, 2000, shall be confidential, shall not be considered as public record under R.S. 44:1 et seq., and shall not be released or shown to any person except:
(1) To the veteran or his designee.
(2) If the veteran is deceased, to the executor of his estate or to the surviving spouse or any family member of the veteran, upon furnishing a death certificate, affidavit of death, or other satisfactory evidence of the death of the veteran.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 44:31 and R.S. 44:32, the clerks of court of the several parishes and the register of conveyances of the parish of Orleans shall make available to the public any discharge certificate or other evidence of honorable separation from the armed forces of the United States filed prior to July 1, 2000. The clerks of court and the register shall not make copies of such record for a person who requests such record, unless the person who requests such record appears in person in the office of the appropriate clerk of court or the register and provides his full name and address to the clerk or register. The clerks of court and the register shall not make such record available to the public on any website.
Acts 2003, No. 316, §1, eff. June 13, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 758, §1, eff. July 1, 2004.
NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 316, §3, relative to remedial nature and applicability.
§21. Municipal fire and police civil service; test materials confidential
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all tests and all records, the content of which includes or indicates actual content or answers for tests which are prepared, administered, or scored by the office of state examiner, municipal fire and police civil service, shall be confidential and shall not be released by any person except for:
(1) The production and exhibition by the state examiner of test questions, answers, and papers to a local civil service board as required by R.S. 33:2492 or 2552, provided that such production and exhibition and any discussion of such materials shall occur in executive session as authorized by R.S. 42:6.1.
(2) As necessary for the actual administration of the test.
Acts 2003, No. 336, §2, eff. June 13, 2003.
§22. Economic development negotiations
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, records in the custody of the Department of Economic Development pertaining to an active negotiation with a person for the purpose of retaining, expanding, or attracting economic or business development in the state shall be confidential and shall not be subject to the provisions of R.S. 44:31, 32, or 33, if the person requests such confidentiality in writing detailing the reasons such person requests confidentiality and asserting that the negotiation is conditioned in whole or in part on the maintenance of such confidentiality, and the secretary of the Department of Economic Development determines that the disclosure of such records would have a detrimental effect on the negotiation. Each determination by the secretary shall include his reasons for such determination. The secretary shall publish in the official journal of the state a notice containing general information regarding each negotiation to which records are confidential pursuant to this Section, no later than ten days after the determination of confidentiality. Such notice shall include the date of the secretary's determination. Records of expenses of the department pertaining to the negotiation shall be public and subject to review, except that the secretary may redact information that he determines would identify or lead to the identification of the person with whom the department is negotiating and such information shall be confidential until the negotiations are concluded. However, immediately upon the conclusion of the negotiation, all such records shall be subject to the provisions of this Chapter.
B. No information made confidential pursuant to Subsection A of this Section shall remain confidential for more than twelve months from the date of the secretary's determination of confidentiality; however, if the negotiation remains active and the secretary makes a new determination that the disclosure of the information would be detrimental to the negotiations and gives notice as provided in Subsection A of this Section, such information shall remain confidential while the negotiation remains active, not to exceed an additional twelve months. Under no circumstances shall information made confidential pursuant to this Section remain confidential for more than twenty-four months from the date of the initial determination of the secretary.
C. For the purposes of this Section, "active negotiation" or "negotiation remains active" shall mean a negotiation which has commenced when the Department of Economic Development provides a response to a request for information or other similar document from a person who is requesting assistance in the retention, expansion, or location of a business in this state and which is not concluded. For the purposes of this Section, a negotiation is no longer active or is concluded when the Department of Economic Development decides to no longer actively pursue the retention, expansion, or location of such business in this state; when the person with whom the department was negotiating decides not to pursue the retention, expansion, or location of such business in this state; or when a proposal affecting the negotiation is submitted to a public body for consideration by the public body in a public meeting, whichever occurs earlier.
D. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to any application for a license or permit or to any record of negotiations concerning any hazardous waste or waste site, as "hazardous waste" and "waste" are defined in R.S. 30:2173.
E. The provisions of this Section shall have no effect unless the party whose information is being maintained confidential maintains as confidential any information provided to the party by the Department of Economic Development in response to a request for assistance in the retention, expansion, or location of a business in the state and which is a negotiation and which remains an active negotiation.
F. The provisions of this Section shall be void and have no effect beginning with any negotiations that begin on or after July 1, 2008.
Acts 2004, No. 669, §1, eff. July 5, 2004.