Developmental and mental health services: information and records: confidentiality.

Existing law requires all information and records obtained in the course of providing specified developmental services and mental services to either voluntary or involuntary recipients of services to be confidential, and authorizes disclosure only in specified cases, including in communications between qualified professional persons in the provision of services or appropriate referrals, and to the designated officer of an emergency response employee, and from that designated officer to an emergency response employee regarding possible exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus or the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This bill would additionally authorize, during the provision of emergency services and care, the communication of patient information and records between specified individuals, including, among others, a social worker with a masters degree in social work. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 5328 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by SB 241 to be operative only if this bill and SB 241 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.