HIV Laws

This page houses HIV-related laws, fact sheets, and legislative highlights by year.

Office of AIDS: Statutory Authority and Budget Authority

Regulations:

All of Office of AIDS' regulations are in Title 17. Public Health, Division 1. State Department of Health Services, Chapter 4. Preventive Medical Services. All communicable disease reporting (including HIV) is in Chapter 4. Preventive Medical Service, Subchapter 1. Reportable Diseases and Conditions, Article 1. Reporting. HIV-specific reporting regulations are in Article 3.5 Reporting of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. The Syringe Exchange Program regulations are in Subchapter 15. Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) Certification. 

HIV Laws by Subject Area:

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP):

• Statutory Authority for ADAP and PrEP Assistance Program
• Federal Poverty Levels and Federal HRSA ADAP Manual (PDF)
• PrEP Assistance Program Statutory Changes from the Budget Trailer Bill 2018 (PDF)

HIV Care Program for people living with HIV:

• Statutory Authority in HSC 131019, 131051, & 120960.
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Case Management (PDF)
• Legal Authority for Provider and Local Public Health Department Staff to Share Patient HIV/AIDS Information for Case Management and Care Coordination Fact Sheet 2017 (PDF)

Other HIV-related Laws:

• SB 239 (2017) Fact Sheet (PDF)

Prevention:

Statutory Authority, HIV Testing authority, PrEP and PEP authority

Partner services:

• SB 75 (2015) established the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Navigator Services Program ​
• Partner Services using HIV Surveillance Data Policy Letter 2013 (PDF)

HIV Testing:

• Senate Bill 306 Fact Sheet - HIV, HCV, and STI Test Counselor Training (PDF)
  
• Assembly Bill 2640 (2016) - Public Health: HIV Testing Requirements (PDF) 
• HIV Testing AB 446 (2013):
• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing (PDF)
• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing in Non-Health Care Settings (PDF)
• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing in Health Care Settings (PDF)
• HCV Testing in Non-Health Care Settings - Letter to All Interested Parties (December 2012) (PDF) 
• AB 1382 (2011) HCV Testing by HIV Test Counselors - Fact Sheet (2012) (PDF)
• AB 1382 (2011) Hepatitis C Testing by HIV Test Counselors - Letter 2012 (PDF)
• SB 853 (2010) Rapid HIV Testing and Counselor Requirements (PDF)
• HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health Care Settings (2007) (PDF) 
• AB 682 (2007): Elimination of Written Consent Requirement for HIV Testing (PDF)
• AB 682 (2007): Changes in California Law Regarding HIV Testing for Pregnant Women, Jan. 2008 Letter (PDF)
• AB 682 (2007): Providing for HIV Testing in Medical Settings Without Written Consent, Feb. 2008 Letter (PDF)

Syringe Exchange Program (SEP):

• Statutory Authority to purchase needles and to certify syringe exchange programs.
• Guidelines for Syringe Exchange Programs Funded by CDPH OA (2018) (PDF) 
• Syringe Exchange Program Statutory Changes from the Budget Trailer Bill 2018 (PDF) 
• CA Syringe Laws Fact Sheet (2017) (PDF)
• Guidance on Syringe Services Funding 2016 (PDF)
• CDC Approval Letter Required for Determination of Need 2016 (PDF)
• California Legal Code Related to Access to Sterile Needles and Syringes (June, 2019) (PDF)
• AB 1743 (2014) Nonprescription Syringe Sale at Pharmacies (PDF)
• AB 604 (2011) Syringe Exchange Program (PDF)

Surveillance and HIV Reporting: Statutory authority

• Telemedicine HIV Reporting Requirements (PDF)​
  

• Changes to HIV Reporting Revisions to 17 CCR 2500 and 17 CCR 2505 (PDF)

• Methods and Timeline for Reporting HIV Data: Overview of Legal Requirements for Providers, Labs, and Local Health Officers (2017) (PDF) 
• Healthcare Provider HIPAA Disclosure 2021 (PDF) 
• Blood and Plasma Centers Reporting in CA Fact Sheet 2017 (PDF)
• Persons in Research Studies HIV Case Reporting Requirements Letter (PDF)
• HIV Genotype Sequence Data Reporting Letter (PDF)
• HIV Test Results Reporting Requirements Letter (PDF) 
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Reporting and Using Data for Case Management:
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Reporting (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV and STD Co-infection Reporting (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) Re-disclosure of HIV data for case management (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Case Management (PDF)
• AB 1045 (2009) CD4+T-cell reporting requirements (PDF)

Legislative Updates by Year:

2018:

• Syringe Exchange Program Statutory Changes from the Budget Trailer Bill 2018 (PDF) 
• PrEP Assistance Program Statutory Changes from the Budget Trailer Bill 2018 (PDF)

2017: 

• SB 239 (2017) Fact Sheet (PDF) 

2016:

• Assembly Bill 2640 (2016) - Public Health: HIV Testing Requirements (PDF) 

2015:

• SB 75 established the Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Navigator Services Program

2014:

• AB 1743 (2014) - Nonprescription Syringe Sale at Pharmacies (PDF)

2013:

• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing (PDF)
• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing in Health Care Settings (PDF)
• AB 446 (2013) HIV Testing in Non-Health Care Settings (PDF)

2011:

• 2011 Signed Legislation (PDF)
• AB 604 (2011) Syringe Exchange Program (PDF)
• AB 1382 (2011) HCV Testing by HIV Test Counselors - Fact Sheet (2012) (PDF)
• AB 1382 (2011) Hepatitis C Testing by HIV Test Counselors - Letter 2012 (PDF)
• SB 41 (2011) required Office of AIDS to develop and maintain information on its Internet Web site to educate consumers at risk of bloodborne infections of opportunities to improve and protect their health.
  

2010:

• 2010 Signed Legislation (PDF)
• SB 853 (2010) Rapid HIV Testing and Counselor Requirements (PDF)
• AB 2451 (2010):
• AB 2541 (2010) Re-disclosure of HIV data for case management (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Case Management (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV Reporting (PDF)
• AB 2541 (2010) HIV and STD Co-infection Reporting (PDF)

2009:

• 2009 Signed Legislation (PDF)
• AB 1045 (2009) CD4+T-cell reporting requirements (PDF)

2007:

• AB 682 (2007):
• AB 682 (2007): Elimination of Written Consent Requirement for HIV Testing (PDF)
• AB 682 (2007): Changes in California Law Regarding HIV Testing for Pregnant Women, Jan. 2008 Letter (PDF)
• AB 682 (2007): Providing for HIV Testing in Medical Settings Without Written Consent, Feb. 2008 Letter (PDF)
• AB 110 (2007) authorized a public entity that receives General Fund money from the department for HIV prevention and education to use that money to support clean needle and syringe exchange projects authorized by the public entity

Federal Guidance:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-HIV/AIDS
• Medicare Part D
• Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB)

Other Helpful Links:

• The Center for HIV Law and Policy at UCLA