Communicable diseases: HIV reporting.

Senator Laird's HIV reporting legislation modifies California's public health data sharing protocols to enhance privacy protections while enabling necessary information exchange between healthcare providers and public agencies. The bill authorizes providers to supplement existing HIV case reports with additional patient information when required by law or public health guidelines, but strictly limits such disclosures to situations where the data is essential for disease surveillance, care coordination, or investigation.

The legislation establishes a framework for verifying financial eligibility for AIDS Drug Assistance Program applicants through data sharing between health departments and the Franchise Tax Board. This process includes specific confidentiality safeguards, requiring annual agreements from staff accessing records and mandating the destruction of shared information after verification. The bill maintains existing civil and criminal penalties for unauthorized disclosures, ranging from $5,000 for negligent breaches to $25,000 and potential jail time for willful violations resulting in harm.

For individuals transitioning between Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment programs and the Low Income Health Program, the bill permits limited data sharing between state agencies and participating entities to facilitate continuous care. These exchanges remain subject to existing confidentiality protections, with information restricted to the patient, their healthcare provider, and relevant public health offices. The legislation prohibits using any disclosed health records to determine employment eligibility or insurability.