Criminal history information: medical facilities.

Existing law requires a local agency to furnish local summary criminal history information to certain authorized agencies, organizations, or individuals, when needed in the course of their duties, and authorizes a local agency to furnish local summary criminal history information to certain other authorized agencies, organizations, or individuals, upon a showing of compelling need. Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for any person authorized by law to receive a record or information obtained from a record to knowingly furnish the record or information to a person who is not authorized by law to receive the record or information. This bill would require a peace officer to disclose to staff at an acute care hospital if a person whom the peace officer has brought to the medical facility for treatment has a violent criminal history as indicated by the local summary criminal history information that the person could be a danger to staff at the hospital. By requiring local criminal justice agencies to provide this information and by expanding the scope of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.