[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR8.5]

[Page 30-31]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
PART 8--DEMANDS FOR TESTIMONY OR RECORDS IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 8.5  What procedures are followed in response to a demand for records?

    (a)(1) After an employee receives a demand for records issued 
pursuant to the rules governing the legal proceeding in which the demand 
arises, the employee shall immediately notify the Secretary and request 
instructions.
    (2) If an employee receives any other demand for records, the 
Department--
    (i) Considers the demand to be a request for records under the 
Freedom of Information Act; and
    (ii) Handles the demand under rules governing public disclosure, as 
established in 34 CFR part 5.
    (b) An employee may not produce records in response to a demand as 
described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section without the prior written 
authorization of the Secretary.

[[Page 31]]

    (c) The Secretary may make these records available if the Secretary 
determines that the demand satisfies the requirements of Sec. 8.3 and 
that disclosure--
    (1) Would be appropriate under the rules of procedure governing the 
matter in which the demand arises and other applicable laws, rules, and 
regulations; and
    (2) Would not be contrary to an interest of the United States, which 
includes furthering a public interest of the Department and protecting 
the human and financial resources of the United States.
    (d) If a response to a demand for records as described in paragraph 
(a)(1) of this section is required before the Secretary determines 
whether to allow an employee to produce those records, the employee or 
counsel for the employee shall--
    (1) Inform the court or other authority of the regulations in this 
part; and
    (2) Request that the demand be stayed pending the employee's receipt 
of the Secretary's instructions.
    (e) If the court or other authority declines the request for a stay, 
or rules that the employee must comply with the demand regardless of the 
Secretary's instructions, the employee or counsel for the employee shall 
respectfully decline to comply with the demand, citing United States ex 
rel. Touhy v. Ragen, 340 U.S. 462 (1951), and the regulations in this 
part.

(Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 5 U.S.C. 552; 20 U.S.C. 3474)