The department of health services, the department of children and families, and all public assistance and relief-granting agencies shall respect rights for recipients of public assistance. The rights shall include all rights guaranteed by the U.S. constitution and the constitution of this state, and in addition shall include: (1) The right to be treated with respect by state agents. (2) The right to confidentiality of agency records and files on the recipient. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the use of such records for auditing or accounting purposes or, to the extent permitted under federal law, for the purposes of locating persons, or the assets of persons, who have failed to file tax returns, who have underreported their taxable income or who are delinquent taxpayers, identifying fraudulent tax returns or providing information for tax-related prosecutions. (3) The right to access to agency records and files relating to the recipient, except that the agency may withhold information obtained under a promise of confidentiality. (4) The right to a speedy determination of the recipient’s status or eligibility for public assistance, to notice of any proposed change in such status or eligibility, and, in the case of assistance granted under s. 49.19, 49.46, 49.468, 49.47, or 49.471, to a speedy appeals process for resolving contested determinations.
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