1.    If it appears that an individual is a sexually dangerous individual, the state‘s attorney may file a petition in the district court alleging that the individual is a sexually dangerous individual and stating sufficient facts to support the allegation.

2.    The petition and any proceeding under section 25-03.3-11 are confidential and are not public records or proceedings under sections 44-04-18 and 44-04-19 and sections 5 and 6 of article XI of the Constitution of North Dakota. The court may permit access to a respondent’s records or proceedings under this chapter to the respondent’s guardian, guardian ad litem, or other similarly situated individual. The court may permit access to information in the respondent’s records to other individuals who require the information for use in performing official governmental duties. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceedings under section 25-03.3-13 and any evidence introduced or presented to the court for any such proceeding are required to be open to the public, with the exception of a proceeding involving an individual who has not been convicted of a sexual act as defined in section 25-03.3-01. The protections of subsection 10 of section 12.1-34-02 and section 12.1-35-03 apply to any records or proceedings under this chapter.