| (a) Consumer records.
(1) All personal information available to DARS employees
as they administer rehabilitation services programs, including names,
addresses, and records of consumer evaluations, is confidential.
(2) DARS may use such information and records only
for purposes directly connected with administering the rehabilitation
programs.
(3) DARS may directly or indirectly disclose information
only in administering the rehabilitation programs, except with the
consumer's written consent, in compliance with a court order, or in
accordance with a federal or state law or regulation. DARS may not
share information containing identifiable personal information with
advisory or other bodies that do not have official responsibilities
for administration of the programs.
(4) Upon a consumer's request, DARS releases information
to a consumer or, as appropriate, his parent, guardian, or other representative.
If, in the opinion of the counselor, release to the consumer of a
particular document in the consumer case file will have a harmful
effect on the consumer, the consumer will be notified that there is
information in the case file that can be released only to an appropriate
representative designated in writing by the consumer.
(5) All consumer information is the property of DARS.
(b) Other records.
(1) Release of consumer records must be made in accordance
with federal law and regulations.
(2) DARS may provide to and receive from any state
agency other nonconfidential information for the purpose of increasing
and enhancing services to consumers and improving agency operations.
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