Section 705.24. Confidentiality and access to disclosure statements

(a) The provisions of the Privacy Protection Act of 1976 (Chapter 26 (§ 2.1-377 et seq.) of Title 2.1 of the Code of Virginia shall apply to statements and information obtained pursuant to these regulations.

(b) All statements of employment and financial interest which are filed pursuant to these regulations, and the information shown thereon, shall be maintained only for the purposes of determining whether there are any direct or indirect financial interests in violation of Section 45.1-231 of the Act, and Section 517(g) of the Federal Act. No other use is authorized.

(c) Access to such statements and information shall be restricted to personnel of the Department and of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and State and Federal enforcement authorities (including the U.S. Justice Department) for the purposes for which the information was collected. Access among personnel of the Department shall be further restricted to only those persons specified by the Director as having regular access to the statements and information.

(d) All such statements and information shall be maintained separate and apart from personnel records and other records to which the public could have access.

(e) The filing and information system where such statements and information are stored shall be identified as restricted access and secured against unauthorized access. The Director shall designate a custodian for records maintained in the Division's Office in Big Stone Gap, and another custodian for records maintained in the Department's Offices in Richmond. The duties of these custodians shall be to maintain restricted access and security for their respective records.

(f) Whenever any employee ceases to occupy a listed position which requires the filing of a statement of employment and financial interest, all such statements then on file from such employee shall be returned to the employee and all information systems purged of the data provided by such statements upon request of the employee. In addition, the custodian of the records where such statements are maintained shall periodically update the records by purging them of statements and information pertaining to employees who no longer occupy listed positions.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR480-03-19 § 705.24, eff. December 15, 1981; amended, eff. June 28, 1982; October 28, 1982; December 14, 1982; October 11, 1983; December 27, 1983; May 8, 1984; June 22, 1984; August 2, 1984; October 16, 1985; January 7, 1987; July 22, 1987; November 25, 1987; October 12, 1988; December 26, 1990; July 1, 1991; July 17, 1991; November 20, 1991; July 7, 1992; May 5, 1993; October 19, 1994.

Statutory Authority

§§ 45.1-161.3 and 45.1-230 of the Code of Virginia.