(Formerly Sec. 19-583). Information to be confidential. Exceptions

(a) Information received by the Department of Public Health through filed reports, inspection or as otherwise authorized under this chapter, shall not be disclosed publicly in such manner as to identify any patient of an institution, except in a proceeding involving the question of licensure. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, all records obtained by the commissioner in connection with any investigation under this chapter shall not be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 for a period of six months from the date of the petition or other event initiating such investigation, or until such time as the investigation is terminated pursuant to a withdrawal or other informal disposition or until a hearing is convened pursuant to chapter 54, whichever is earlier, except those medical and personnel records described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (15) of subsection (a) of section 19a-14 shall not be subject to disclosure under section 1-210. A complaint, as defined in subdivision (6) of section 19a-13, shall be subject to the provisions of section 1-210 from the time that it is served or mailed to the respondent. Records which are otherwise public records shall not be deemed confidential merely because they have been obtained in connection with an investigation under this chapter.