Protections For Public Health Department Workers

Under current law, it is unlawful for a person to make available on the internet personal information of a law enforcement official (official) or a human services worker (worker), or the official's or worker's family, if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the official's or worker's safety or the safety of the official's or worker's family. A violation of this law is a class 1 misdemeanor.

Further, a worker meeting certain requirements specified in statute may submit a written request to a state or local government official to remove personal information from public records that are available on the internet.

The bill adds the same protections for public health workers, including employees, contractors, or employees of contractors of the department of public health and environment, or of county or district public health agencies, who are engaged in public health duties, and for members of county or district boards of health, other than elected county commissioners.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)