Sec. 54-240i. Exemption from use of program address by agency.
Sec. 54-240i. Exemption from use of program address by agency. (a) An agency
may request an exemption from the use of a program participant's program address
pursuant to section 54-240h by providing, in writing, to the Secretary of the State: (1)
Identification of the statute or regulation that specifies the agency's statutory or regulatory requirement for the use of the program participant's confidential address; (2) a
statement that the confidential address will be used only for such statutory or regulatory
purposes; (3) identification of the specific program participant with respect to whom
the exemption is requested; (4) identification of the persons who will have access to the
confidential address; and (5) an explanation of how the agency's acceptance of the
program address would prevent the agency from meeting its obligations under the law
and why it cannot meet its statutory or regulatory obligation by a change in its internal
procedures.
(b) During the review and evaluation by the Secretary of the State, and any appeal,
if applicable, of an agency's exemption request, the agency shall use the program participant's program address.
(c) The Secretary of the State's determination to grant or deny an exemption request
shall be based on, but need not be limited to, an evaluation of the information provided
by the agency pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(d) If the Secretary of the State determines that there is a statutory or regulatory
requirement that the agency use the program participant's confidential address and that
the confidential address will be used only to comply with such requirement, the Secretary
of the State shall issue a written exemption for the agency. The Secretary of the State
may include in the exemption (1) the agency's obligation to maintain the confidentiality
of the program participant's confidential address, (2) limitations on the use of or access
to the confidential address, (3) the term for which the exemption is granted, (4) a designation of the record format in which the confidential address may be maintained, (5) a
designation of a disposition date after which the agency may no longer maintain a record
of the participant's confidential address, and (6) any other provisions and qualifications
deemed appropriate by the Secretary of the State. Any agency that is granted an exemption may not make the program participant's confidential address available for inspection or copying by persons other than those identified in the exemption request as having
access to the confidential address, except (A) if directed by a court order, to a person
identified in such order, or (B) if notified by the Secretary of the State that the program
participant's certification has been cancelled.
(e) Prior to granting an exemption, the Secretary of the State shall notify the program
participant of the exemption, including the name of the agency and the reason or reasons
for the exemption.
(f) If the Secretary of the State determines that there is no statutory or regulatory
requirement that the agency use the program participant's confidential address, the Secretary of the State shall issue a written denial of the exemption request. Such written
denial shall include a statement of the reason or reasons for the denial.
(g) The granting or denial of the agency's exemption request pursuant to this section
constitutes a final decision. The program participant or any other party aggrieved by
such decision may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.
(P.A. 03-200, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 03-200 effective January 1, 2004.