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*MS 0175 (1) Volume 1 – General Administration *MS 0175 – 1/15/25 – OMTL-664 Disclosure of Information Case record information should never be shared with any individual or entity not authorized to obtain it. This also applies to testimony in court. However, through appropriate action, information may be requested to use in either legal action or personal business. A. Open Records Requests are requests for eligibility information for an individual(s). These can come from the individual themselves, law enforcement, or another individual or entity that would otherwise be unable to access these records. These requests are not generally completed by field staff. If documentation for an Open Records Request is received, the documentation should be forwarded through regional chain of command to the appropriate program inbox. Information regarding the submission of a request, including the information for media requests B. Subpoenas may be used as a request for information by the judicial system. Guidance regarding what can or cannot be disclosed based on the type of subpoena may be obtained from the regional attorneys or, if the regional attorney is unavailable or cannot help, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Office of Legal Services (OLS) in Central Office. List of regional attorneys that may be able to assist 1. Contact the regional attorney or OLS at 502-564-7905 immediately upon receipt of a subpoena. If time permits, the regional attorney/OLS will assist. If time does not permit OLS assistance, take the following action: a. If the subpoena requests a Family Support worker to appear in court, the worker must appear in court with the requested information as directed. In addition, the worker should take a copy of KRS 205.175 and explain to the judge that all Family Support case records are confidential pursuant to KRS 205.175 and can only be released by court order. If the judge orders the release of the information, the worker must comply. b. If the subpoena requests a Family Support worker to appear in a setting other than the courtroom or in the presence of a judge, the employee must appear as directed and advise that all CHFS case information is confidential pursuant to KRS 205.175 and can only be released to a judge by a court order. (See Volume 3 MS 2040 if the individual presents a court order). c. If the subpoena requests release of information contained in the case file and the individual requesting information is acting on behalf of CHFS, such as a county attorney involved in child support activities, provide the requested information. 2. Grand jury subpoenas are not court orders and while a judge is not present at the proceeding, information may be released to the grand jury only if the