Chapter 18B of the general laws shall be amended by adding a new section 26 as follows:

            (a)  The purpose of this section shall  be to improve the safety and security of social workers employed by the depart of children and families to carry out their responsibilities without fear of personal reprisal from individuals affected by the decisions they make and actions they take in the course of performing their duties.

            (b)  Each social worker employed by the depart of children and families shall be provided with a state-issued identification card showing the name and position of the worker and containing a recent picture.  In performing any of the social worker’s duties, the social worker shall display the identification card; such card shall be accepted as proof of the social worker’s identity unless the person to whom it is displayed has a good faith basis for denying its authenticity.

(c)  No person or law enforcement agency shall require such social worker to provide such social worker’s home address or telephone number in connection with the performance of the social worker’s duties nor shall any person interfere with the social worker’s performance of the social worker’s duties conditioned upon the provision of documentation or other disclosure of the social worker’s home address or telephone number.

(d) Any report of a law enforcement agency containing the home address and telephone number of such social worker shall redact such information from the report prior to releasing it to any person.