Substitute House Bill No. 7158 aims to improve the secure transmission of safety plans for minors receiving inpatient behavioral health care to their schools. Effective April 1, 2026, health care providers must review these plans with the minor and obtain consent from the minor or their legally authorized representative before sharing the plans with the school. The bill mandates that these plans be transmitted through a secure messaging system compliant with HIPAA regulations. It also establishes definitions for key terms such as "designated employee," "health care provider," and "secure messaging system." Additionally, the bill repeals and replaces subsection (b) of section 17b-59d of the general statutes to align with the State-wide Health Information Exchange goals.

Local and regional boards of education are required to set up organizational accounts on secure messaging systems by January 1, 2026, providing access to designated employees, including school nurse supervisors, who must maintain the confidentiality of the safety plans. The bill mandates annual professional development for new designated employees on using the secure messaging system and requires education boards to submit their secure messaging system addresses to the State Department of Education. Notably, the bill eliminates previous requirements for discharge plans for minors treated for more than 14 consecutive days and the creation of a list of behavioral health providers for school nurses, emphasizing secure communication and collaboration between health care providers and educational institutions.