(a) The Department of Health and/or its authorized representatives may interview any person infected with HIV (as per confirmatory blood test), or anyone directly named as a contact to a known infected individual, for the express purpose of partner notification, which includes risk reduction, counseling, testing and/or treatment, as the same might be deemed appropriate.
(b) All information gathered in the course of partner notification shall be held confidential and shall be subject to the rules and regulations governing patient confidentiality promulgated by the Commissioner of Health, pursuant to section 32a of this title. Any person who violates the provisions of this section, or the rules and regulations promulgated therefor, shall be fined up to $3,000 for each offense and may be terminated from his position of employment.
(c) Any person who is determined to be HIV infected, who may reveal the name or names of persons who they may have perceived to be at risk for HIV infection, especially of sexual contacts or needle-sharing partners, for the express purpose of facilitating partner notification, shall not be held liable in a civil action for such a revelation unless the revelation is made falsely or with reckless disregard for the truth.