§ 12-105. Central registry of records

   (a) In general. --

   (1) The Child Support Enforcement Administration of the Department of Human Resources shall maintain a central registry of records of all identifying information that relates to parents who have deserted or who appear to have deserted their children.

   (2) The Child Support Enforcement Administration shall list these parents in the registry whether or not their children are likely to become recipients of public assistance or foster care.

(b) Requests for information. -- In accordance with subsections (c) and (d) of this section, to carry out the purposes of this section, the Child Support Enforcement Administration may receive from any agency of this State, political subdivision of this State, employer, public service company, energy provider, or labor union information and assistance that will enable the Child Support Enforcement Administration, the local enforcement office, or the State's Attorney for the county involved:

   (1) to locate an absent parent or a parent who has deserted or appears to have deserted a child;

   (2) to enforce the liability of the parent for the support of a child of the parent; or

   (3) to obtain other financial and location information concerning parents and putative fathers needed by the administration to carry out its responsibilities under State and federal law.

(c) Information required to be supplied -- State, employer, or labor union. --

   (1) Upon written request by the Child Support Enforcement Administration, any agency of this State, political subdivision of this State, employer, or labor union shall provide, if available, a person's:

      (i) Social Security account number;

      (ii) date of birth;

      (iii) last known residence or mailing address;

      (iv) present or last known employer;

      (v) length of employment;

      (vi) job classification;

      (vii) name of person to be notified in case of emergency and the person's residence;

      (viii) work hours;

      (ix) amounts of wages or other assets; and

      (x) medical insurance provider.

   (2) As to individuals who were employed within the 3 years preceding a request for information by the Child Support Enforcement Administration, the State agency, political subdivision, employer, or labor union shall provide whatever information is available.

   (3) (i) Upon request and a showing of cause by the Child Support Enforcement Administration, a circuit court may issue an order requiring an employer or labor union to comply with a request for information under this section.

      (ii) If an employer or labor union refuses to provide information from its employee or member files as required by an order by a circuit court issued under this paragraph, the employer or labor union shall be in contempt of court.

(d) Information required to be supplied -- Utilities. --

   (1) In accordance with a subpoena issued by the Administration under § 10-108.6 of this article, a public service company or energy provider shall provide, if available:

      (i) a person's name and address; and

      (ii) the name and address of the person's employer.

   (2) If a public service company or energy provider fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the Administration, the Administration shall have available the remedies provided under § 10-108.4 of this article.

(e) Immunity. -- An employer, public service company, energy provider, or labor union that complies with a request from the Administration made under this section is not liable under State law to any person for any:

   (1) disclosure of information to the Administration under this section; or

   (2) other action taken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this section.

(f) Confidentiality of records. -- Any record compiled from information provided under this section shall be available only to:

   (1) an authorized representative of this State or of a local department of this State; or

   (2) a person who has a statutory right to the records in an official capacity.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 88A, § 5A; 1984, ch. 204, § 1; ch. 296, § 2; ch. 400, § 1; 1987, ch. 316; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; ch. 338, § 1; 1997, ch. 609, § 1; 1998, ch. 21, § 1; 2002, ch. 19, § 9.