Section 4-707 - Confidentiality. - Maryland Statutes

§ 4-707. Confidentiality.
 

(a)  In general.- Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, all information and records acquired by a local team in the exercise of its purpose and duties under this subtitle: 

(1) are confidential; 

(2) are exempt from disclosure under Title 10, Subtitle 6 of the State Government Article; and 

(3) may only be disclosed as necessary to carry out the local team's duties and purposes. 

(b)  Statistics open to public.- Statistical compilations of data that do not contain any information that would permit the identification of any person to be ascertained are public records. 

(c)  Certain reports deemed public.- Reports of a local team that do not contain any information that would permit the identification of any person to be ascertained are public information. 

(d)  Prohibited disclosures by team members and attendees.- Except as necessary to carry out a local team's purpose and duties under this subtitle, members of a local team and persons attending a local team meeting may not disclose: 

(1) what transpired at a meeting closed to the public under § 4-706 of this subtitle; or 

(2) any information the disclosure of which is prohibited by this section. 

(e)  Team information not available in civil or criminal proceedings; exceptions.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, members of a local team, persons attending a local team meeting, and persons who present information to a local team may not be questioned in any civil or criminal proceeding regarding information presented in or opinions formed as a result of a meeting. 

(2) A person may testify to information obtained independently of the local team or that is public information. 

(f)  Protected information, documents, and records.-  

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, information, documents, and records of a local team are not subject to subpoena, discovery, or introduction into evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding. 

(2) Information, documents, and records otherwise available from other sources are not immune from subpoena, discovery, or introduction into evidence through those sources solely because they were presented during proceedings of a local team or are maintained by a local team. 

(g)  Violations; penalties.- A violation of this section is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $500 or imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or both. 
 

[2005, ch. 233.]