This chapter is intended to reconcile the free access to public records granted by the open government act and the discovery rights of judicial and administrative systems with the historical confidentiality of certain records of the department of employment security and the individual's right of privacy as acknowledged by the open government act.

     The legislature recognizes that records and information held by the department of employment security could be misused. Therefore, this chapter defines a right of privacy and confidentiality as regards individual and employing unit records maintained by the department of employment security. The legislature further recognizes that there are situations where this right of privacy and confidentiality is outweighed by other considerations. Therefore, this chapter also defines certain exceptions to the right of privacy and confidentiality.

[1977 ex.s. c 153 § 1.]