(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person may not disclose any information concerning an applicant for or recipient of social services, child welfare services, adult protective services, cash assistance, food stamps, or medical assistance that is directly or indirectly derived from the records, investigations, or communications of the State, a county, or a municipal corporation or a unit of the State, a county, or a municipal corporation or that is acquired in the course of the performance of official duties. (b) This section does not prohibit the disclosure of information: (1) in accordance with a court order; (2) to an officer or employee of any state or local government or the United States, if the officer or employee is entitled to the information in an official capacity and the disclosure is necessary to administer: (i) public assistance, medical assistance, social services, adult protective services, or child welfare services programs; or (ii) voter registration in accordance with § 3-203 of the Election Law Article; (3) to a fiduciary institution that reported suspected financial abuse or financial exploitation, if the fiduciary institution is authorized to request the information under § 1-306(h) of the Financial Institutions Article; or (4) relating to adult protective services, to an officer or employee of any state or local government or the United States if the officer or employee is responsible for conducting an investigation in an official capacity and the disclosure is relevant to the investigation. (c) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 90 days or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.
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