Section 109 Victim Compensation Program Transfer 31

Said chapter 258C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

          Section 15. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all records and information received, obtained or maintained by the agency in connection with any claim for crime victim compensation shall be confidential and privileged. All records and information shall not be disclosed by the agency or by anyone who receives such records or information from the agency.

          (b) Nothing in this section shall preclude disclosure of records or information:

          (i) for the processing of a claim by the agency or responding to an action in court seeking review of a decision by the agency;

          (ii) consisting of information exchanged between the claimant or the claimant's authorized representative and the agency, provided that the claimant or the claimant's authorized representative consents to such disclosure in writing; or

          (iii) upon a lawful order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.

This section, together with related sections, transfers the Victim Compensation program from the Attorney General's Office to the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance.