§ 2915 — Court and agency records

(a) General rule.--All court and agency records shall be maintained as a permanent record and withheld from inspection except as provided under this chapter.

(b) Who may access court or agency records.--Only the following are authorized to access court or agency records for the purpose of releasing nonidentifying or identifying information under this chapter:

(1) The court which finalized the adoption.

(2) The agency that coordinated the adoption.

(3) A successor agency authorized by the court which finalized the adoption.

(c) Disposition of agency records upon closure.--

(1) As soon as practicable, but not less than 30 days prior to the date on which an agency ceases to operate as a legal entity in this Commonwealth, the agency shall, unless it has applied to operate as a new legal entity, notify the department of its intention to cease operating.

(2) Within this time period, the agency shall submit a plan to the department relating to the closure and transfer of case records to another agency. The plan shall be subject to approval by the department.

(3) In preparation for its closure and transfer of case records, the agency shall label its case records to identify the respective court that finalized an adoption or where a petition to terminate parental rights or to adopt has been filed.

(4) The department shall notify each court so identified by the agency of the name, address and telephone number of the agency to which case records have been transferred.