§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.

           Acts 1999, No. 1267, §1.