The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the confidentiality of communications made to silent witness and crime reporting programs. Under the current law, a record of communication between a person who submits a report of criminal activity and the entity that accepts the report is not considered a public record. The bill would reinforce this by explicitly prohibiting the disclosure of such records, except under specific circumstances, such as when a motion is filed in a criminal trial or civil action asserting that the record contains material information relevant to the case.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions that outline the process for disclosing these records, including the requirement for a court to conduct an in-camera review of the materials upon receiving a motion. It specifies that if the court allows disclosure, the information will be deemed privileged and confidential, and any undisclosed materials must be returned to the relevant law enforcement agency and retained for a specified period. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the protection of sensitive communications while providing a legal framework for their potential disclosure in judicial proceedings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 12-2312