Policy and Legislation

This page houses links to information about legislation, laws, and regulations related to sexually transmitted infections and viral hepatitis in California. Please note that the information on this page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It may not be comprehensive and is meant to serve as a guide only. Full codes and regulations are available on California Legislative Information. Specific questions about a code or law should be directed to your legal counsel.

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Fact Sheets

Assembly Bill 789 - Health care services. (Hepatitis B & C testing) (2021)

Senate Bill 306 - Sexually transmitted disease: testing (2021)

Senate Bill 1333 - Communicable diseases: HIV reporting (2024)

Senate Bill 1333 Fact Sheet: Expands Disclosure to Include Additional Reportable Diseases (PDF)

Acronym or Symbol	Definition
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
BPC	Business and Professions Code
CCR	California Code of Regulations
CDC	U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDPH or DPH	California Department of Public Health, also referred to as “the department”
CIV	Civil Code
CHYA	California Healthy Youth Act
CLIA	Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
EDC	Education Code
FAM	Family Code
GOV	Government Code
HCV	Hepatitis C
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HSC	Health and Safety Code
INS	Insurance Code
LAB	Labor Code
LHD	Local Health Department
LHJ	Local Health Jurisdiction
LHO	Local Health Officer
PEN	Penal Code
PHI	Protected Health Information
PrEP	Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
STD	Sexually Transmitted Disease
STI	Sexually Transmitted Infection
WIC	Welfare and Institutions Code
§	Section

Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

HSC 120100-120115 (General Provisions and Definitions)
HSC 120125-120163 (Functions and Duties of State Department of Health Services (the Department’s predecessor department))
HSC 131050-131135 (General Powers of the Department)
HSC 120175-120255 (Functions and Duties of Local Health Officers)

See also Title 17 CCR § 2501

HSC 101025 – 101165 (Power and Duties of the Local Health Officer and Local Health Departments)

See also Title 17 CCR § 1276

HSC 120275-120305 (Violations)
HSC 120500-120750 (Sexually Transmitted Disease)

See also Title 17 CCR § 2636

HSC 120775-121349.3 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV))
HSC 122400-122445 (Hepatitis C)
HSC 122450 (Communicable Disease Testing and Prevention)

Communicable Disease Testing and Medical Services

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-Waived Testing

BPC 1206.5 (by health professionals)
HSC 120917 (by HIV test counselors)
Title 17 CCR § 1230 (HIV testing by laboratories)

Coverage of At-Home STI Test Kits

HSC 1367.34 (by health plans regulated by Department of Managed Health Care)
INS 10123.208 (by health insurers regulated by Department of Insurance)
WIC 14132 (by the Medi-Cal program)

Justice Involved Settings

Mandated testing in the event of gassing

PEN 243.9 (in a city or county jail)
PEN 4501.1 (in a state prison)

Testing of people accused or convicted of sexual offenses

PEN 1202.1 (HIV testing of people convicted of certain sexual offenses)
PEN 1524.1 (HIV testing of defendants at victim’s request)

Testing of people who are incarcerated

PEN 7500-7554 (in state and local correctional institutions)
PEN 5008.2 (Offer of hepatitis C screening in state prisons)

HSC 1491-1492 (county medical facility testing of victims of sexual offenses)
HSC 121050 – 121070 (testing for peace officers, custodial officers, emergency medical personnel, firefighters, other public safety personnel, forensic scientists, and victims of crime potentially exposed to bodily fluids)

Testing in Health Care and Occupational Settings

BPC 18712 (testing for professional boxers and martial arts fighters)
HSC 1316.7 (viral hepatitis testing in primary care settings)
HSC 120260 – 120263 (Communicable Diseases Exposure Notification Act)

Prenatal Testing

HSC 120675-120715 (Prenatal Syphilis Tests)

See also Title 17 CCR § 1125 -1134

HSC 125085-125090 (prenatal testing for HIV and hepatitis B)

Confidentiality, Disclosure of Medical Records

CIV 56.10 – 56.16 (disclosure of medical information by providers)
HSC 100330 (confidentiality of patient identifying information procured for special morbidity and mortality studies)
HSC 121025 (HIV public health records confidentiality and permitted disclosures)

See also CDPH Office of AIDS HIV Laws webpage

HSC 130290 (California Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework)

Data Collection and Disaggregation

GOV 8310-8318 (demographic data collection categories)
HSC 152000 (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Intersex Status Data Collection)

Discrimination Protections

CIV 51 (Unruh Civil Rights Act)
GOV 12900-12999 (California Fair Employment and Housing Act)

Minors

FAM 6920-6930 (minor consent to medical treatment)
Title 17 CCR § 5151 (Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Minors)
FAM 7000-7143 (emancipated minors)
HSC 123100-123149.5 (Patient Access to Health Records)
PEN 11164 - 11174.3 (Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act)

Occupational Health and Safety (see also Communicable Disease Testing and Medical Services)

Title 8 CCR § 5193 (occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens)
HSC 1250.11 (Department guidelines to minimize risk of transmission of bloodborne infectious diseases)

See Resources section for current CDC infection control guidelines for healthcare workers and settings.

BPC 2221.1 (licensee penalties for failure to follow infection control guidelines)
HSC 105325-105340 (sharps injury control program)
HSC 117600-118360 (Medical Waste Management Act)
LAB 3208.05 (workers’ compensation; preventive health care provided to health care workers)
LAB 4656 (duration of disability payments)

Organ, Tissue, and Bodily Fluid Donor Screening

HSC 1200 – 1796.70 (Licensing Provisions)
HSC 1600 – 1630 (Human Whole Blood, Human Whole Blood Derivatives, and Other Biologics)
HSC 1635 – 1643.2 (Tissue Banks)
HSC 1644 – 1644.6 (Donations of Organs, Tissues, or Bodily Fluids)

Partner Notification, Contact Management, and Treatment

Partner Notification and Contact Management

HSC 120555 (STD partner information)
HSC 121015 (HIV partner notification)

Partner Treatment

BPC 4076 (Requirements for Prescriptions)
HSC 120582 (expedited partner therapy)

Pharmacist Administration of Preventative Services (see also Partner Treatment)

BPC 4052 (emergency contraception, HIV PrEP, vaccinations, etc.)
BPC 4145.5 (nonprescription furnishing of syringes)

Public Awareness/Education

EDC 51930 - 51939 (California Healthy Youth Act (CHYA))
HSC 151000 - 151003 (Sexual Health Education Accountability Act)
HSC 11999-11999.3 (Illegal Use of Drugs and Alcohol)

Reporting

Providers, Laboratories, Schools, and Blood Banks

HSC 1603.1 (reporting by blood banks and plasma centers)
HSC 121022 (HIV case reporting by health care providers and laboratories)
HSC 120130 (authority to establish and modify list of reportable diseases and conditions, require isolation or quarantine)
Title 17 CCR § 2500 (provider reporting to LHO)