Keeping commission records confidential

(a) All advisory opinions, files, records, reports, writings, documents, exhibits, electronic records, and other information prepared or received by the commission or its staff or consultants relating to a request for advice or a complaint shall be held in confidence and no information as to the contents thereof shall be disclosed, unless such disclosure is: (1) The result of the information being presented to or received by the commission at a hearing or meeting that is open to the public; (2) Ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction; (3) Reasonably required by the commission, its staff, or consultant to investigate or otherwise discharge its duties regarding the request for advice or the complaint, including but not limited to providing information to the appointing authority or council, in the case of a councilmember, in support of the commission’s advisory opinion and recommended disciplinary action, unless otherwise protected by law. If disciplinary action is taken against an employee, the employee’s exclusive representative shall also be entitled to the information, unless otherwise protected by law; or (4) Allowed or required by applicable law. (b) Any commission member, commission staff member, or consultant who discloses information related to a request for advice or complaint, unless disclosure is allowed pursuant to subsection (a), shall be subject to Charter § 11-106 and § 1-19.5 . (c) The disclosures of conflicts of interests as provided in the Charter shall be made matters of public record at any time that such a conflict becomes apparent.