NOTE: §38 eff. until Oct. 1, 2027. See Acts 2025, No. 477.
§38. Access to records involved in legislative studies
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the custodian of records of the
Department of Children and Family Services, office of children and family services, and the
custodian of records of each juvenile court or any court which hears and decides juvenile
matters shall grant access to a percentage, as specified by the legislative committee, of the
total records of defined classes of children in state custody or in foster care to any committee
of the legislature acting pursuant to an appropriate legislative instrument directing the
committee to study procedures or outcomes of cases involving children in state custody or
in foster care. The size of the specific group to be studied shall be large enough to preserve
the anonymity of individual children. Such access shall be limited to that purpose, and all
information regarding names or other identifiers shall be removed. Information pertaining
to children who have been adopted shall be strictly confidential and shall be released only
in accordance with existing laws.
NOTE: §38 as amended by Acts 2025, No. 477, eff. Oct. 1, 2027.
§38. Access to records involved in legislative studies
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the custodian of records of the
Department of Children and Family Services and the custodian of records of each juvenile
court or any court which hears and decides juvenile matters shall grant access to a
percentage, as specified by the legislative committee, of the total records of defined classes
of children in state custody or in foster care to any committee of the legislature acting
pursuant to an appropriate legislative instrument directing the committee to study
procedures or outcomes of cases involving children in state custody or in foster care. The
size of the specific group to be studied shall be large enough to preserve the anonymity of
individual children. Such access shall be limited to that purpose, and all information
regarding names or other identifiers shall be removed. Information pertaining to children
who have been adopted shall be strictly confidential and shall be released only in
accordance with existing laws.
Acts 1999, No. 1267, §1; Acts 2025, No. 477, §14, eff. Oct. 1, 2027.