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<ns0:Id>20250SB__091598AMD</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-01-27</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-25</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Menjivar</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Name>Menjivar</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 24258) to Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to health and care facilities.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>health and care facilities</ns0:RelatingClause>
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<ns0:Subject>Health care provider entities: patients accompanied by immigration enforcement officers.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Under existing law, the State Department of Public Health is responsible for the licensing and regulation of various facilities and settings that provide health care services, as specified. Existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act prohibits, except to the extent expressly authorized by a patient, enrollee, or subscriber, or as otherwise permitted or required, a provider of health care, health care service plan, contractor, or corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates from disclosing medical information for immigration enforcement. Existing law requires health care provider entities, as defined, to establish or amend procedures for monitoring, documenting, and receiving visitors to health care provider entities to the extent possible, and prohibits, unless required by state or
federal law, a health care provider entity and its personnel from allowing any person access to nonpublic areas of the provider’s facilities for immigration enforcement purposes, except as specified.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would, among other things, require a health care provider entity to, upon arrival of a patient accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, verify and document the identities and agencies of the accompanying immigration enforcement officers, to the extent possible. The bill would require health care provider entity personnel to ask an immigration enforcement officer to step out of the patient’s room when discussing any matters pertaining to patient care, or performing any physical examination, or providing any medical care, would prohibit an immigration enforcement officer from having any authority to make, influence, or participate in medical decisions on behalf of patient they accompany, and would require the health care provider entity personnel to
document the actions, name, and badge number of an immigration enforcement officer who refuses to comply with the requirements of this bill. The bill would also prohibit a health care provider entity from using blackout policies when admitting a patient who is accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, and defines blackout policies to mean any policy that is used by health care provider entities when admitting a patient under criminal custody, including, but not limited to, registering patients under a pseudonym, removing the patient’s name from the health care provider entity’s directory, or prohibiting personnel from confirming that a patient is in the health care provider entity.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_56A9B034-F016-4A51-B319-153B9BA68A71">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 24258) is added to Division 20 of the
<ns0:DocName>Health and Safety Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>2.1.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Patients Accompanied by Immigration Enforcement Officers</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>24258.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
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“Blackout policies” means any policy that is used by health care provider entities when admitting a patient under criminal custody, including, but not limited to, registering patients under a pseudonym, removing the patient’s name from the health care provider entity’s directory, or prohibiting personnel from confirming that a patient is in the health care provider entity.
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(b)
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“Health care provider entity” includes all of the individuals and entities described in Section 24252.
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<html:p>
(c)
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“Immigration enforcement” has the same definition as that term is defined in Section
56.05 of the Civil Code.
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<html:p>
(d)
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“Immigration enforcement officer” means any federal officer or employee conducting immigration enforcement, or any persons or entities contracted to conduct immigration enforcement.
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<ns0:Num>24259.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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A patient who is accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer while receiving treatment or care at a health care provider entity facility shall retain all rights afforded to any other patient, as mandated by California law, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
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(1)
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Private communication with legal counsel.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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The right to authorize the release of medical information, including discharge information, to the family, patient’s representative, assigned counsel, government officials, or anyone else to whom the patient directs.
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<html:p>
(3)
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The right to have a family member, clergy, advocates, or other
representative of the patient’s choosing to be notified when the patient is admitted to a health care provider entity facility and the right to designate visitors.
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(4)
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Access to qualified medical interpreters and communication tools.
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(5)
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The right to refuse medical care and make independent health decisions.
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<html:p>
(b)
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A health care provider entity shall do both of the following when there is a patient accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer:
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<html:p>
(1)
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Upon arrival, verify and document the identities and agencies of any accompanying immigration enforcement officers, to the extent possible.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Inform the patient of the rights described in subdivision (a).
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<html:p>
(c)
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A health care provider entity may do both of the following when there is a patient accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer:
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<html:p>
(1)
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Provide the patient’s family members or designated persons with a list of immigrant advocacy groups and resources.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Provide the patient access to social, educational, and spiritual support services.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
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(1)
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As outlined by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) (Public Law 104-191) and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 56) of Division 1 of the Civil Code), an immigration enforcement officer shall not remain in a patient’s room or patient care area unless legally authorized, such as with a valid judicial
warrant or court order, and only with written justification provided to the health care provider entity.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Health care provider entity personnel shall ask an immigration enforcement officer to step out of the patient’s room when discussing any matters pertaining to patient care, or performing any physical examination, or providing any medical care.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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An immigration enforcement officer shall have no authority to make, influence, or participate in medical decisions on behalf of patient they accompany, including decisions regarding treatment, care, and discharge. Employees of the health care provider entity shall not defer to an immigration enforcement officer on any matter pertaining to patient treatment or care.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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Health care provider entity personnel shall not utilize immigration enforcement officers to provide
interpretation for patient care or consent.
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<html:p>
(5)
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If an immigration enforcement officer refuses to comply with the requirements under this section, health care provider entity personnel shall document the actions, name, and badge number of the immigration enforcement officer, and report the violation to the health care provider entity management, administration, or legal counsel.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_2F3AA70C-82BA-4E5B-BF22-8CE4018EB604">
<ns0:Num>24260.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>A health care provider entity shall not use blackout policies when admitting a patient who is accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer.</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_3C1FF15C-8A77-4339-AA2B-B3DE816F8211">
<ns0:Num>24261.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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Prior to discharging a patient who is accompanied by an immigration enforcement officer, health care provider entity personnel shall ensure the receiving facility meets the needs and acuity of the patient. To verify appropriate and timely continuity of care, the health care provider entity shall request the immigration enforcement officer and the receiving facility to provide the health care provider entity with written confirmation regarding all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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Continuity of prescribed medications.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Durable medical equipment.
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(3)
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Postdischarge care, including rehabilitative care.
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(4)
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Access to specialty care and followup services, including confirmation that the receiving health care facility can arrange specialty referrals, ensure timely followup for ongoing medical conditions, and coordinate with outside specialty providers when onsite services are unavailable.
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<html:p>
(b)
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A health care provider entity shall provide a copy of the discharge summary and care instructions to the patient, and, upon the patient’s request, to the family, patient’s representative, assigned counsel, government officials, or anyone else to whom the patient directs.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_DC730E77-F446-43D1-92FB-C71B96D78BCA">
<ns0:Num>24262.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.</html:p>
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