Chapter 0259 - 521R - S Ver of HB2100

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 8-807, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE8-807. DCS information; public record; use; confidentiality; violation; classification; definitions

A. DCS information shall be maintained by the department as required by federal law as a condition of the allocation of federal monies to this state. All exceptions for the public release of DCS information shall be construed as openly as possible under federal law.

B. The department, or a person who receives DCS information pursuant to this subsection, shall provide DCS information to a federal agency, a state agency, a tribal agency, a county or municipal agency, a law enforcement agency, a prosecutor, an attorney or a guardian ad litem representing a child victim of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, Constitution of Arizona, a school, a community service provider, a contract service provider or any other person that is providing services pursuant to this article or article 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of this chapter:

1. To meet its duties to provide for the safety, permanency and well‑being of a child, provide services to a parent, guardian or custodian or provide services to family members to strengthen the family pursuant to this article or article 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of this chapter.

2. To enforce or prosecute any violation involving child abuse or neglect.

3. To provide information to a defendant after a criminal charge has been filed as required by an order of the criminal court.

4. To help investigate and prosecute any violation involving domestic violence as defined in section 13‑3601 or violent sexual assault as prescribed in section 13‑1423.

C. The department shall disclose DCS information to a court, a party in a dependency or termination of parental rights proceeding or the party's attorney, the foster care review board or a court appointed special advocate for the purposes of and as prescribed in this title.

D. The department shall disclose DCS information to a domestic relations, family or conciliation court if the DCS information is necessary to promote the safety and well‑being of children. The court shall notify the parties that it has received the DCS information.

E. A person or agent of a person who is the subject of DCS information shall have access to DCS information concerning that person.

F. The department:

1. May provide DCS information to confirm, clarify or correct information concerning an allegation or actual instance of child abuse or neglect that has been made public by sources outside the department.

2. Shall promptly provide DCS information to the public regarding a case of child abuse, abandonment or neglect that has resulted in a fatality or near fatality as follows:

(a) The department shall provide preliminary information including at a minimum:

(i) The name, age and city, town or general location of residence of the child who has suffered a near fatality or fatality.

(ii) The fact that a child suffered a near fatality or fatality as the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect.

(iii) The name, age and city, town or general location of residence of the alleged perpetrator, if available.

(iv) Whether there have been reports, or any current or past cases, of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child and the current alleged abusive or neglectful parent, guardian or custodian.

(v) Actions taken by the department in response to the fatality or near fatality of the child.

(vi) A detailed synopsis of prior reports or cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child and the current alleged abusive or neglectful parent, guardian or custodian and of the actions taken or determinations made by the department in response to these reports or cases.

(b) On request by any person, the department shall promptly provide additional DCS information to the requestor. Before releasing additional DCS information, the department shall promptly notify the county attorney of any decision to release that information, and the county attorney shall promptly inform the department if it believes the release would cause a specific, material harm to a criminal investigation. After consulting with the county attorney, pursuant to subdivision (c) of this paragraph, the department shall produce to the requestor as much additional DCS information as promptly as possible about a case of child abuse, abandonment or neglect that resulted in a fatality or near fatality.

(c) On request, the department shall continue to provide DCS information promptly to the public about a fatality or near fatality unless:

(i) After consultation with the county attorney, the county attorney demonstrates that release of particular DCS information would cause a specific, material harm to a criminal investigation.

(ii) The release would violate subsection A or L of this section or the privacy of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, subsection C, Constitution of Arizona.

(d) If any person believes that the county attorney has failed to demonstrate that release would cause a specific, material harm to a criminal investigation, that person may file an action in superior court pursuant to title 39, chapter 1, article 2 and subsection J of this section and request the court to review the DCS information in camera and order disclosure.

3. May provide DCS information to a person who is conducting bona fide research, the results of which might provide DCS information that is beneficial in improving the department.

4. May provide access to DCS information to the parent, guardian or custodian of a child if the DCS information is reasonably necessary to promote the safety, permanency and well‑being of the child.

G. The department shall disclose DCS information to a county medical examiner or an alternate medical examiner directing an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a death pursuant to section 11‑593.

H. Access to DCS information in the central registry shall be provided as prescribed in section 8‑804.

I. To provide oversight of the department, the department shall provide access to DCS information to the following persons, if the DCS information is reasonably necessary for the person to perform the person's official duties:

1. Federal or state auditors.

2. Persons conducting any accreditation deemed necessary by the department.

3. A standing committee of the legislature or a committee appointed by the president of the senate or the speaker of the house of representatives for purposes of conducting investigations related to the legislative oversight of the department. This information shall not be further disclosed unless a court has ordered the disclosure of this information, the information has been disclosed in a public or court record, or the information has been disclosed in the course of a public meeting or court proceeding.

4. A legislator who requests DCS information in the regular course of the legislator's duties. This information shall not be further disclosed unless a court has ordered the disclosure of this information, the information has been disclosed in a public or court record, or the information has been disclosed in the course of a public meeting or court proceeding. To request a file pursuant to this paragraph:

(a) The legislator shall submit a written request for DCS information to the presiding officer of the body of which the state legislator is a member. The request shall state the name of the person whose case file is to be reviewed and any other information that will assist the department in locating the file.

(b) The presiding officer shall forward the request to the department within five working days of the receipt of the request.

(c) The department shall make the necessary arrangements for the legislator to review the file at an office of the department, chosen by the legislator, within ten working days.

(d) The legislator shall sign a form, consistent with the requirements of this paragraph and paragraph 3 of this subsection, before reviewing the file, that outlines the confidentiality laws governing department files and penalties for further release of the information.

5. A citizen review panel as prescribed by federal law, a child fatality review team as provided in title 36, chapter 35 and the office of ombudsman-citizens aide.

J. A person who has been denied DCS information regarding a fatality or near fatality caused by abuse, abandonment or neglect pursuant to subsection F, paragraph 2 or subsection L of this section may bring a special action pursuant to section 39‑121.02 in the superior court to order the department to release that DCS information. A legislator has standing to bring or to join a special action regarding the release of DCS information or to challenge the redaction of released DCS information. The plaintiff shall provide notice to the county attorney, who has standing and may participate in the action. The court shall review the requested records in camera and order disclosure consistent with subsection A, subsection F, paragraph 2 and subsection L of this section. The court shall take reasonable steps to prevent any clearly unwarranted invasions of privacy and protect the privacy and dignity of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, subsection C, Constitution of Arizona.

K. The department or a person who is not specifically authorized by this section to obtain DCS information may petition a judge of the superior court to order the department to release DCS information. The plaintiff shall provide notice to the county attorney, who has standing and may participate in the action. The court shall review the requested records in camera and shall balance the rights of the parties who are entitled to confidentiality pursuant to this section against the rights of the parties who are seeking the release of the DCS information. The court may release otherwise confidential DCS information only if the rights of the parties seeking the DCS information and any benefits from releasing the DCS information outweigh the rights of the parties who are entitled to confidentiality and any harm that may result from releasing the DCS information. The court shall take reasonable steps to prevent any clearly unwarranted invasions of privacy and protect the privacy and dignity of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, subsection C, Constitution of Arizona.

L. Except as provided in subsection M of this section, before it releases records under this section, the department shall take whatever precautions it determines are reasonably necessary to protect the identity and safety of a person who reports child abuse or neglect and to protect any other person if the department believes that disclosure of the DCS information would be likely to endanger the life or safety of any person. The department is not required by this section to disclose DCS information if the department demonstrates that disclosure would cause a specific, material harm to a department investigation. The department is not required by this section to disclose DCS information if, in consultation with the county attorney, the county attorney demonstrates that disclosure would cause a specific, material harm to a criminal investigation.

M. A person who is the subject of an unfounded report or complaint made pursuant to this article or article 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 or 14 of this chapter and who believes that the report or complaint was made in bad faith or with malicious intent may petition a judge of the superior court to order the department to release the DCS information. The petition shall specifically set forth reasons supporting the person's belief that the report or complaint was made in bad faith or with malicious intent. The court shall review the DCS information in camera and the person filing the petition shall be allowed to present evidence in support of the petition. If the court determines that there is a reasonable question of fact as to whether the report or complaint was made in bad faith or with malicious intent and that disclosure of the identity of the person making the report or complaint would not be likely to endanger the life or safety of the person making the report or complaint, it shall provide a copy of the DCS information to the person filing the petition and the original DCS information is subject to discovery in a subsequent civil action regarding the making of the report or complaint.

N. The department shall provide the person who conducts a forensic medical evaluation with any records the person requests, including social history and family history regarding the child, the child's siblings and the child's parents or guardians.

O. The department shall provide DCS information on request to a prospective adoptive parent, foster parent or guardian, if the information concerns a child the prospective adoptive parent, foster parent or guardian seeks to adopt or provide care for.

P. If the department receives information that is confidential by law, the department shall maintain the confidentiality of the information as prescribed in the applicable law.

Q. A person may authorize the release of DCS information about the person but may not waive the confidentiality of DCS information concerning any other person.

R. The department may provide a summary of the outcome of a department investigation to the person who reported the suspected child abuse or neglect.

S. The department shall adopt rules to facilitate the accessibility of DCS information.

T. The department or a person who receives DCS information pursuant to subsection B of this section shall provide DCS information to law enforcement and a court to protect the safety of any employee of the department or the office of the attorney general or to protect a family member of such an employee.

U. A person who receives DCS information shall maintain the confidentiality of the information and shall not further disclose the information unless the disclosure is authorized by law or a court order.

T. V. The department may charge a fee for copying costs required to prepare DCS information for release pursuant to this section.

U. W. A person who violates this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

V. X. For the purposes of this section:

1. "DCS information" includes all information the department gathers during the course of an investigation conducted under this chapter from the time a file is opened and until it is closed. DCS information does not include information that is contained in child welfare agency licensing records.

2. "Near fatality" means an act that, as certified by a physician, including the child's treating physician, places a child in serious or critical condition. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 11-483, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE11-483. Records maintained by county recorder; confidentiality; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, in any county an eligible person may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing the unique identifier and the recording date contained in indexes of recorded instruments maintained by the county recorder and may request the county recorder to prohibit access to that person's residential address and telephone number contained in instruments or writings recorded by the county recorder.

B. An eligible person may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties, an organization of peace officers and the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation:

1. The person's full legal name and residential address.

2. The full legal description and parcel number of the person's property.

3. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall instead attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment or an eligible person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program shall instead attach a copy of the participant's current and valid address confidentiality program authorization card issued pursuant to section 41‑163 and a statement of certification provided by the secretary of state's office.

4. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that restricting access pursuant to this section will serve to reduce the danger.

5. The document locator number and recording date of each instrument for which the person requests access restriction pursuant to this section.

6. A copy of pages from each instrument that includes the document locator number and the person's full legal name and residential address or full legal name and telephone number.

C. If an eligible person is also requesting pursuant to section 11‑484 that the general public be prohibited from accessing records maintained by the county assessor and county treasurer, the eligible person may combine the request pursuant to subsection B of this section with the request pursuant to section 11‑484 by filing one affidavit. The affidavit and subsequent action by the appropriate authorities shall meet all of the requirements of this section and section 11‑484.

D. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.

E. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. Each affidavit presented shall be attached to the petition. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.

F. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. If the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that the action requested by the affiant will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person, the presiding judge of the superior court shall order that the county recorder prohibit access for five years to the affiant's residential address and telephone number contained in instruments or writings recorded by the county recorder and made available on the internet. If the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that the affiant or another person is in actual danger of physical harm from a person or persons with whom the affiant has had official dealings and that action pursuant to this section will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person, the presiding judge of the superior court shall order that the general public be prohibited for five years from accessing the unique identifier and the recording date contained in indexes of recorded instruments maintained by the county recorder and identified pursuant to subsection B of this section.

G. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that an instrument or writing recorded by the county recorder has been redacted or sealed in error, that the original affiant no longer lives at the address listed in the original affidavit, that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists or that temporary access to the instrument or writing is needed, the presiding judge may temporarily stay or permanently vacate all or part of the court order prohibiting public access to the recorded instrument or writing.

H. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order and a copy of the affidavit required by subsection B of this section with the county recorder. No more than ten days after the date on which the county recorder receives the court order, the county recorder shall restrict access to the information as required by subsection F of this section.

I. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.

J. The county recorder shall remove the restrictions on all records restricted pursuant to this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county recorder shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, or law enforcement support staff member or employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county recorder may coordinate with the county assessor and county treasurer to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.

K. To include subsequent recordings in the court order, the eligible person shall present to the county recorder at the time of recordation a certified copy of the court order or shall provide to the county recorder the recording number of the court order. The county recorder shall ensure that public access shall be restricted pursuant to subsection A of this section.

L. This section shall not be interpreted to restrict access to public records for the purposes of perfecting a lien pursuant to title 12, chapter 9, article 2.

M. This section does not prohibit access to the records of the county recorder by parties to the instrument, a law enforcement officer performing the officer's official duties pursuant to subsection N of this section, a title insurer, a title insurance agent or an escrow agent licensed by the department of insurance or the department of financial institutions.

N. A law enforcement officer is deemed to be performing the officer's official duties if the officer provides a subpoena, court order or search warrant for the records.

O. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Code enforcement officer" means a person who is employed by a state or local government and whose duties include performing field inspections of buildings, structures or property to ensure compliance with and enforce national, state and local laws, ordinances and codes.

2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3 or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety.

5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.

6. "Indexes" means only those indexes that are maintained by and located in the office of the county recorder, that are accessed electronically and that contain information beginning from and after January 1, 1987.

7. "Judge" means a judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.

8. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

9. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.

10. "Peace officer" means any person vested by law, or formerly vested by law, with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests.

11. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.

12. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 11-484, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE11-484. Records maintained by county assessor and county treasurer; redaction; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, in any county an eligible person may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing that person's residential address and telephone number that are contained in instruments, writings and information maintained by the county assessor and the county treasurer.

1. The person's full legal name and residential address.

2. The full legal description and parcel number of the person's property.

3. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment or an eligible person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program shall instead attach a copy of the participant's current and valid address confidentiality program authorization card issued pursuant to section 41‑163 and a statement of certification provided by the secretary of state's office.

4. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that redacting the residential address and telephone number will serve to reduce the danger.

C. If an eligible person is also requesting pursuant to section 11‑483 that the general public be prohibited from accessing records maintained by the county recorder, the eligible person may combine the request pursuant to subsection B of this section with the request pursuant to section 11‑483 by filing one affidavit. The affidavit and subsequent action by the appropriate authorities shall meet all of the requirements of this section and section 11‑483.

G. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that an instrument or writing maintained by the county assessor or the county treasurer has been redacted or sealed in error, that the original affiant no longer lives at the address listed in the original affidavit, that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists or that temporary access to the instrument or writing is needed, the presiding judge may temporarily stay or permanently vacate all or part of the court order prohibiting public access to the instrument or writing.

H. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order and a copy of the affidavit required by subsection B of this section with the county assessor and the county treasurer. No more than ten days after the date on which the county assessor and the county treasurer receive the court order, the county assessor and the county treasurer shall restrict access to the information as required by subsection F of this section.

I. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.

J. The county assessor and the county treasurer shall remove the restrictions on all records that are redacted pursuant to this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county assessor or the county treasurer shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, or law enforcement support staff member or employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county assessor or county treasurer may coordinate with the county recorder to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.

K. For the purposes of this section:

2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, person who is a participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3, or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety.

6. "Judge" means a judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.

7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

8. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.

9. "Peace officer" means any person vested by law, or formerly vested by law, with a duty to maintain public order and make arrests.

10. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.

11. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 13-2401, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-2401. Personal information on the world wide web; exception; classification; definitions

A. It is unlawful for a person to knowingly make available on the world wide web the personal information of a peace officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or prosecutor if the dissemination of the personal information poses an imminent and serious threat to the peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's, department of child safety employee's or prosecutor's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family and the threat is reasonably apparent to the person making the information available on the world wide web to be serious and imminent.

B. It is not a violation of this section if an employee of a county recorder, county treasurer or county assessor publishes personal information, in good faith, on the web site website of the county recorder, county treasurer or county assessor in the ordinary course of carrying out public functions.

C. A violation of subsection A is a class 5 felony.

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

2. "Immediate family" means a peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's or prosecutor's spouse, child or parent and any other adult who lives in the same residence as the person.

3. "Judge" means a judge of the United States district court, the United States court of appeals, the United States magistrate court, the United States bankruptcy court, the Arizona court of appeals, the superior court or a municipal court.

4. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

5. "Personal information" means a peace officer's, justice's, judge's, commissioner's, public defender's or prosecutor's home address, home telephone number, pager number, personal photograph, directions to the person's home or photographs of the person's home or vehicle.

6. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor, the attorney general or a United States attorney and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.

7. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 16-153, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE16-153. Voter registration; confidentiality; definitions

A. Eligible persons, and any other registered voter who resides at the same residence address as the eligible person, may request that the general public be prohibited from accessing the residential address, telephone number and voting precinct number contained in their voter registration record.

B. Eligible persons may request this action by filing an affidavit that states all of the following on an application form developed by the administrative office of the courts in agreement with an association of counties and an organization of peace officers:

1. The person's full legal name, residential address and date of birth.

2. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall instead attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment.

3. The reasons for reasonably believing that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that sealing the residential address, telephone number and voting precinct number of the person's voting record will serve to reduce the danger.

C. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, prosecutor, public defender, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, public defender, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.

D. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. The petition shall have attached each affidavit presented. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.

E. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. The presiding judge of the superior court shall order the sealing for five years of the information contained in the voter record of the affiant and, on request, any other registered voter who resides at the same residence address if the presiding judge concludes that this action will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant.

F. The recorder shall remove the restrictions on all voter records submitted pursuant to subsection E of this section by January 5 in the year after the court order expires. The county recorder shall send by mail one notice to either the former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member, or law enforcement support staff member or employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment or the employing agency of a peace officer, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member who was granted an order pursuant to this section of the order's expiration date at least six months before the expiration date. If the notice is sent to the employing agency, the employing agency shall immediately notify the person who was granted the order of the upcoming expiration date. The county recorder may coordinate with the county assessor and county treasurer to prevent multiple notices from being sent to the same person.

G. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order with the county recorder. On receipt of the court order the county recorder shall seal the voter registration of the persons listed in the court order no later than one hundred twenty days from the date of receipt of the court order. To include a subsequent voter registration in the court order, a person listed in the court order shall present to the county recorder at the time of registration a certified copy of the court order or shall provide the county recorder the recording number of the court order. The information in the registration shall not be disclosed and is not a public record.

H. If the court denies an affiant's requested sealing of the voter registration record, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court where the petition was filed.

I. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that a voter registration record has been sealed in error or that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists, the presiding judge may vacate the court order prohibiting public access to the voter registration record.

J. On request by a person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment and presentation of an order of protection issued pursuant to section 13‑3602, an injunction against harassment issued pursuant to section 12‑1809 or an order of protection or injunction against harassment issued by a court in another state or a program participant in the address confidentiality program pursuant to title 41, chapter 1, article 3, the county recorder shall seal the voter registration record of the person who is protected and, on request, any other registered voter who resides at the residence address of the protected person. The record shall be sealed no later than one hundred twenty days from the date of receipt of the court order. The information in the registration shall not be disclosed and is not a public record.

K. For the purposes of this section:

2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, border patrol agent, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety.

5. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.

7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

9. "Prosecutor" means a United States attorney, a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor or the attorney general and includes an assistant or deputy United States attorney, county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general.

10. "Public defender" means a federal public defender, county public defender, county legal defender or county contract indigent defense counsel and includes an assistant or deputy federal public defender, county public defender or county legal defender. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 28-454, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE28-454. Records maintained by department of transportation; redaction; definitions

A. Notwithstanding sections 28‑447 and 28‑455, an eligible person may request that persons be prohibited from accessing the eligible person's residential address and telephone number contained in any record maintained by the department.

1. The person's full legal name and residential address.

2. Unless the person is the spouse of a peace officer or the spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer or the person is a former public official, the position the person currently holds and a description of the person's duties, except that an eligible person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment shall attach a copy of the order of protection or injunction against harassment.

3. The reasons the person reasonably believes that the person's life or safety or that of another person is in danger and that redacting the residential address and telephone number from the department's public records will serve to reduce the danger.

C. The affidavit shall be filed with the presiding judge of the superior court in the county in which the affiant resides. To prevent multiple filings, an eligible person who is a peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, corrections or detention officer, corrections support staff member or law enforcement support staff member shall deliver the affidavit to the peace officer's commanding officer, or to the head of the prosecuting, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, who shall file the affidavits at one time. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier presentation, the commanding officer, or the head of the prosecuting, code enforcement, law enforcement, corrections or detention agency, as applicable, or that person's designee, shall not file affidavits more often than quarterly.

D. On receipt of an affidavit or affidavits, the presiding judge of the superior court shall file with the clerk of the superior court a petition on behalf of all requesting affiants. Each affidavit presented shall be attached to the petition. In the absence of an affidavit that contains a request for immediate action and that is supported by facts justifying an earlier consideration, the presiding judge may accumulate affidavits and file a petition at the end of each quarter.

E. The presiding judge of the superior court shall review the petition and each attached affidavit to determine whether the action requested by each affiant should be granted. The presiding judge of the superior court shall order the redaction of the residence address and telephone number from the public records maintained by the department if the judge concludes that this action will reduce a danger to the life or safety of the affiant or another person.

F. On entry of the court order, the clerk of the superior court shall file the court order with the department. No more than one hundred fifty days after the date the department receives the court order, the department shall redact the residence addresses and telephone numbers of the affiants listed in the court order from the public records of the department. The residence addresses and telephone numbers shall not be disclosed and are not part of a public record.

G. If the court denies an affiant's request pursuant to this section, the affiant may request a court hearing. The hearing shall be conducted by the court in the county where the petition was filed.

H. On motion to the court, if the presiding judge of the superior court concludes that a residential address or telephone number has been sealed in error or that the cause for the original affidavit no longer exists, the presiding judge may vacate the court order prohibiting public access to the residential address or telephone number.

I. Notwithstanding sections 28‑447 and 28‑455, the department shall not release a photograph of a peace officer if the peace officer has made a request as prescribed in this section that persons be prohibited from accessing the peace officer's residential address and telephone number in any record maintained by the department.

J. This section does not prohibit the use of a peace officer's photograph that is either:

1. Used by a law enforcement agency to assist a person who has a complaint against an officer to identify the officer.

2. Obtained from a source other than the department.

K. For the purposes of this section:

2. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

3. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased public officer, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment or firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety.

4. "Former public official" means a person who was duly elected or appointed to Congress, the legislature or a statewide office, who ceased serving in that capacity and who was the victim of a dangerous offense as defined in section 13‑105 while in office.

5. "Law enforcement support staff member" means a person who serves in the role of an investigator or prosecutorial assistant in an agency that investigates or prosecutes crimes, who is integral to the investigation or prosecution of crimes and whose name or identity will be revealed in the course of public proceedings.

6. "Prosecutor" means a county attorney, a municipal prosecutor or the attorney general and includes an assistant or deputy county attorney, municipal prosecutor or attorney general. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 39-123, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE39-123. Information identifying eligible persons; confidentiality; definitions

A. Nothing in this chapter requires disclosure from a personnel file by a law enforcement agency or employing state or local governmental entity of the home address or home telephone number of eligible persons.

B. The agency or governmental entity may release the information in subsection A of this section only if either:

1. The person consents in writing to the release.

2. The custodian of records of the agency or governmental entity determines that release of the information does not create a reasonable risk of physical injury to the person or the person's immediate family or damage to the property of the person or the person's immediate family.

C. A law enforcement agency may release a photograph of a peace officer if either:

1. The peace officer has been arrested or has been formally charged by complaint, information or indictment for a misdemeanor or a felony offense.

2. The photograph is requested by a representative of a newspaper for a specific newsworthy event unless:

(a) The peace officer is serving in an undercover capacity or is scheduled to be serving in an undercover capacity within sixty days.

(b) The release of the photograph is not in the best interest of this state after taking into consideration the privacy, confidentiality and safety of the peace officer.

D. This section does not prohibit the use of a peace officer's photograph that is either:

1. Used by a law enforcement agency to assist a person who has a complaint against an officer to identify the officer.

2. Obtained from a source other than the law enforcement agency.

E. This section does not apply to a certified peace officer or code enforcement officer who is no longer employed as a peace officer or code enforcement officer by a state or local government entity.

F. For the purposes of this section:

2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, border patrol agent, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety or victim of domestic violence or stalking who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment.

7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

9. "Peace officer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13‑105.

Sec. 8. Section 39-124, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE39-124. Releasing information identifying an eligible person; violations; classification; definitions

A. Any person who is employed by a state or local government entity and who, in violation of section 39‑123, knowingly releases the home address or home telephone number of an eligible person with the intent to hinder an investigation, cause physical injury to an eligible person or the eligible person's immediate family or cause damage to the property of an eligible person or the eligible person's immediate family is guilty of a class 6 felony.

B. Any person who is employed by a state or local government entity and who, in violation of section 39‑123, knowingly releases a photograph of a peace officer with the intent to hinder an investigation, cause physical injury to a peace officer or the peace officer's immediate family or cause damage to the property of a peace officer or the peace officer's immediate family is guilty of a class 6 felony.

C. For the purposes of this section:

2. "Commissioner" means a commissioner of the superior court.

3. "Corrections support staff member" means an adult or juvenile corrections employee who has direct contact with inmates.

4. "Eligible person" means a former public official, peace officer, spouse of a peace officer, spouse or minor child of a deceased peace officer, border patrol agent, justice, judge, commissioner, public defender, prosecutor, code enforcement officer, adult or juvenile corrections officer, corrections support staff member, probation officer, member of the board of executive clemency, law enforcement support staff member, employee of the department of child safety who has direct contact with families in the course of employment, national guard member who is acting in support of a law enforcement agency, person who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment, firefighter who is assigned to the Arizona counterterrorism center in the department of public safety or victim of domestic violence or stalking who is protected under an order of protection or injunction against harassment.

7. "Justice" means a justice of the United States or Arizona supreme court or a justice of the peace.

9. "Peace officer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 13‑105.