Section 38-1-4

Filing names of recipients of public assistance with probate judge.

(a) Duty of county board. —The county board of human resources of each county shall on or before January 30, April 30, July 30 and October 30 file or cause to be filed with the probate judge a complete report showing the names of all recipients of public assistance in the county receiving payments under the provisions of this title, together with the amounts paid to each during the preceding month.

(b) Reports open to public inspection; exceptions. —The reports so filed with the probate judge shall be securely bound by him in a separate record book provided for that purpose, which book and all reports contained therein shall be public records and shall be open to public inspection at all times during the regular office hours of the probate judge. However, nothing contained in this section shall be construed to authorize or require the disclosure of any records of the county department of human resources pertaining to adoptions or pertaining to children heretofore or hereafter placed in foster homes for adoption or for other purposes.

(c) Unlawful disclosure or use of names. —Except as provided in this section, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to solicit, disclose, receive, make use of or to authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or acquiesce in the use of, any lists or names for commercial or political purposes of any nature, for publication in any newspaper, magazine, other periodical or otherwise, or for any purpose not directly connected with the administration of public assistance.

(d) Penalty for violation. —Any person, firm or corporation that shall wilfully or knowingly violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $1,000.00, and may also be imprisoned in the county jail for not more than 60 days.

(e) Conflicts with Social Security Act. —Should any portion or clause of this section be declared or adjudicated to be contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of the Social Security Act, that portion or clause of this section shall have no further force or effect.

(Acts 1951, No. 321, p. 612, §§1, 2, 3, 5; Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 293, p. 2350.)