Oklahoma § 59-1261.6 - Information confidential - Disclosure

§ 59-1261.6. Information confidential - Disclosure

No person licensed under the provisions of the Social Worker's

Licensing Act or secretary, stenographer or clerk of such a licensed

person or anyone who participates in delivery of social work

services or anyone working under supervision of a person licensed

under these provisions may disclose any information acquired from

persons consulting the licensed social worker in his or her

professional capacity or be compelled to disclose such information.

The confidential relations and communications between a person

licensed under this act and the client are placed on the same basis

as provided by law for those between an attorney and client.

Nothing in the Social Worker's Licensing Act shall be construed to

require such privileged communication to be disclosed except:

1. With the written consent of the client, or in the case of

death or disability, of his or her personal representative, other

person authorized to sue, or the beneficiary of any insurance policy

on his or her life, health or physical condition;

2. That no information shall be treated as privileged and there

shall be no privilege created by this act as to any information

acquired by a person licensed under this act or a secretary,

stenographer or clerk of such a licensed person or anyone who

participates in delivery of social work services or anyone working

under the supervision of such a licensed person when such

information pertains to criminal acts or violations of any law;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

3. When the person is a child under the age of eighteen (18)

years and the information acquired by the licensed person indicated

that the child was the victim or subject of a crime, the licensed

person may be required to testify fully in relation thereto upon any

examination, trial or other proceeding in which the commission of

such a crime is a subject of inquiry; or

4. When the person waives the privilege by bringing charges

against the licensed person.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit any licensed

person from testifying in court hearings concerning matters of

adoption, child abuse, child neglect, or matters pertaining to the

welfare of children or from seeking collaboration or consultation

with professional colleagues or administrative superiors on behalf

of the client.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 122, § 8, operative July 1, 1982. Amended by

Laws 2003, c. 85, § 12, eff. Nov. 1, 2003.