§1511.8. Secrecy of proceedings
A. Each complaint received by the supervisory committee, each review by the
committee of reports for compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, and all information
forwarded to or gathered by the supervisory committee with regard to such complaints or
reviews and all investigation and proceedings of the supervisory committee with regard to
the same shall be kept strictly confidential until such time that action with which the
supervisory committee or the district attorney has proceeded, or in the case of possible
criminal violations in campaigns for district attorney any action with which the attorney
general has proceeded, becomes a public record, the prescriptive period has elapsed, or the
matter is otherwise finally disposed of. In no event shall such records, evidence, testimony,
notes or other data become public records unless and until civil or criminal charges have
been instituted in accordance with this Chapter. This prohibition, however, shall not
preclude the supervisory committee from: (a) divulging statistical information concerning
complaints, reviews, alleged violations, referrals to district attorneys, and similar matters, or
(b) divulging that a review or investigation was made or a complaint received with regard
to a person or committee, and, upon investigation, no substantial reason was found to believe
that a violation of this Chapter has occurred.
B. The attorney general or district attorney shall, prior to the use of any such
accounts or records in any criminal proceeding, file a motion in a court of proper jurisdiction
requesting a determination by such court of the relevancy or materiality of such accounts or
records to a prosecution for violation of this Chapter. The court shall render such
determination at an in camera proceeding which shall be confidential and not open to the
public. If the court determines that the aforementioned accounts or records are relevant and
material to the prosecution in accordance with this Chapter, then such accounts or records
shall cease to be confidential in nature and may be introduced as evidence in a criminal
proceeding without further restriction. The proceedings in connection with this Subsection
shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Louisiana Code of Criminal
Procedure1 governing motions to suppress evidence.
C. Prior to the use of any such accounts or records in any civil proceeding, the
supervisory committee shall file a motion with the Ethics Adjudicatory Board or in a court
of proper jurisdiction requesting a determination by the Ethics Adjudicatory Board or the
court of the relevancy or materiality of such accounts or records to an action for violation of
this Chapter. The Ethics Adjudicatory Board or court shall render such determination at an
in camera proceeding which shall be confidential and not open to the public. If the Ethics
Adjudicatory Board or court determines that the aforementioned accounts or records are
relevant and material to an action in accordance with this Chapter, then such accounts or
records shall cease to be confidential in nature and may be introduced as evidence in a
proceeding without further restriction.
Acts 1980, No. 786, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 2024, No. 137, §1.