Health and care facilities: information sharing.

Senator Arreguín's healthcare privacy legislation expands California's medical information protections to include immigration status and establishes new protocols restricting access to healthcare facilities for immigration enforcement purposes. The bill amends the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act to classify immigration status and place of birth as protected medical information, prohibiting healthcare providers from disclosing this data for immigration enforcement without explicit patient authorization or specific legal requirements.

The legislation requires healthcare facilities to implement new visitor monitoring procedures and designate treatment areas as nonpublic spaces where access for immigration enforcement is prohibited without a valid judicial warrant or court order. Healthcare entities must train staff on handling immigration enforcement requests and document any denied access attempts. The bill mandates that facility personnel immediately notify management of any immigration enforcement requests to access facilities or patient information.

These provisions apply broadly across California's healthcare system, encompassing state-operated facilities, university medical centers, and private providers receiving state funding. Healthcare entities have 45 days from the bill's effective date to comply with the new requirements. As an urgency measure, the legislation would take effect immediately upon enactment to ensure vulnerable populations can access medical care without fear of immigration enforcement consequences.