OAR 413-010-0065: Discretionary Disclosure

(1) The Department may disclose client information when disclosure is required or authorized by: (a) ORS 419B.035 (governing confidentiality of child abuse reports and records), set out in OAR 413-010-0035(11); or (b) ORS 419A.255 (governing confidentiality of juvenile court records) set out in OAR 413-010-0035(12). (c) ORS 409.225, 419B.035 and 419B.881 (governing confidentiality of record of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression) set out in the above rules. (d) ORS 109.289 (governing confidentiality of adoption records) set out in OAR 413-010-0035(8). (2) The Department may disclose client information for purposes directly connected with the administration of child welfare laws including, but not limited to: (a) Disclosure to employees of the Secretary of State's Office, the Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department who require information to complete audits, program reviews and quality control; (b) Disclosure to law enforcement officers and district attorneys' offices needing information for child abuse assessments, criminal investigations, civil and criminal proceedings connected with administering the agency's child welfare programs; and (c) Disclosure to the public if a child in the Department's legal custody has been abducted or is missing and believed to be abducted, and is in danger of harm or a threat to the welfare of others. The Department may disclose limited information to the extent necessary to identify, locate, or apprehend the child, including the child's name, description, and that the child may pose a threat to the public or self. (3) The Department may disclose general information including, but not limited to policy statements, statistical reports or similar compilations of data which are not identified with an individual child, family or other recipient of services, unless protected by other provisions of law. (4) Presumed Waiver of Protection of ORS 409.225(1). The Department may disclose the information described in section (5) of this rule if the Director or the Director's designee determines that all of the following circumstances are present: (a) An adult client is the subject of client information made confidential by ORS 409.225(1); (b) The Public Records Law does not exempt the information from disclosure; (c) The adult client has publicly revealed or caused to be revealed any significant part of the confidential information and thus is presumed to have voluntarily waived the confidentiality protection of ORS 409.225(1); (d) Disclosure is in the best interest of the child; and (e) Disclosure is necessary to the administration of the child welfare laws. (5) If disclosure is authorized under section (4) of this rule, the Department may disclose information about the person making or causing the public disclosure, not already disclosed, but related to the information made public. (6) Review of Department records for research purposes. The Director or the Director's designee may authorize a person or organization to review Department records for research purposes. The Department may not approve the request until the researcher has agreed, in writing, to maintain the confidentiality of individual clients, not to copy the Department records, and not to include identifying information about any client in the report or reports of the research. (7) Investigation of Other Crime: (a) Except as authorized by subsection (2)(b) or (8) of this rule, and ORS 409.225, Department employees may not disclose to law enforcement client information obtained from client records, conversations with clients or other sources if the employee or employees acquired the information because a person is or has been a client of the Department; (b) A manager or the manager's designee may disclose to law enforcement a client's current address when: (A) The law enforcement officer provides the name and social security number of the client; and (B) The officer satisfactorily demonstrates that the client is a fugitive felon (as defined by the state), the location or apprehension of such felon is within the law officer's official duties, and the request is made in the proper exercise of those duties. (8) Notwithstanding the subsections above, the Department may not disclose a record of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression unless: (a) The department determines, in written findings, that failure to disclose the record is reasonably likely to jeopardize the child’s safety or well-being; (b) The department determines, in written findings, that disclosure of the record is necessary to provide services to the child or the child’s family; or (c) The child consents to the disclosure.