(225 ILCS 55/70) (from Ch. 111, par. 8351-70)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 70. Privileged communications and exceptions.

(a) No licensed marriage and family therapist or associate licensed marriage and family therapist shall disclose any information acquired from persons consulting the marriage and family therapist or associate licensed marriage and family therapist in a professional capacity, except that which may be voluntarily disclosed under the following circumstances:

(1) In the course of formally reporting, conferring, or consulting with administrative superiors, colleagues, or consultants who share professional responsibility, in which instance all recipients of the information are similarly bound to regard the communications as privileged;

(2) With the written consent of the person who provided the information;

(3) In case of death or disability, with the written consent of a personal representative, other person authorized to sue, or the beneficiary of an insurance policy on the person's life, health, or physical condition;

(4) When a communication reveals the intended commission of a crime or harmful act and the disclosure is judged necessary by the licensed marriage and family therapist or associate licensed marriage and family therapist to protect any person from a clear, imminent risk of serious mental or physical harm or injury, or to forestall a serious threat to the public safety; or

(5) When the person waives the privilege by bringing any public charges, criminal, or civil, against the licensee.

(b) Any person having access to records or any one who participates in providing marriage and family therapy services or who, in providing any human services, is supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist, is similarly bound to regard all information and communications as privileged in accord with this Section.

(c) The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act is incorporated in this Act as if all of its provisions were included in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-372, eff. 8-25-17.)