PUBLIC Law, Chapter 572, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Confidentiality of Health Care Information

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Confidentiality of Health Care Information

Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, prescribers and dispensers of scheduled drugs may be prohibited by health information privacy laws from informing law enforcement personnel about suspected drug diversion, which puts emergency health care workers at risk of violence; and

Whereas, emergency health care workers will remain at greater risk of violence unless the law governing disclosure of certain information to law enforcement personnel is clarified; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §1711-C, sub-§6, ¶E, as amended by PL 1999, c. 512, Pt. A, §5 and affected by §7 and c. 790, Pt. A, §§58 and 60, is further amended to read:

E. To federal, state or local governmental entities in order to protect the public health and welfare when reporting is required or authorized by law or , to report a suspected crime against the health care practitioner or facility or to report information that the health care facility's officials or health care practitioner in good faith believes constitutes evidence of criminal conduct that occurred on the premises of the health care facility or health care practitioner;

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.

HP1337 LD 1813	PUBLIC Law, Chapter 572 Emergency Signed on 2012-03-30 00:00:00.0 - Second Regular Session - 125th Maine Legislature
	Bill Tracking, Additional Documents	Chamber Status

Bill Tracking		Chamber Status
Amendments	Testimony, Public Hearings & Work Sessions		Committee Information
Other Documents			Title & Section

Search Bill Text		Search Bill Status
Bill Directory	Session Information		Legislative Information
Get MS-Word and PDF versions		Maine Legislature

Office of Legislative Information 100 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333		voice: (207) 287-1692 fax: (207) 287-1580 tty: (207) 287-6826
Word Viewer for Windows		Disclaimer