Substitute House Bill No. 5168 establishes a secure process for health care providers to transmit safety plans for minor patients to schools, effective April 1, 2027. The bill mandates that health care providers who create safety plans for minors receiving at least twelve consecutive days of inpatient behavioral health care must review these plans with the patient and obtain consent from the patient or their legally authorized representative before sharing the plans with the school. If consent is granted, the provider must transmit the safety plan using a secure messaging system or in compliance with HIPAA. The bill clarifies that it does not create a standard of care for providers regarding the release of information that a minor may withhold under state or federal law.

Additionally, by January 1, 2027, local or regional boards of education are required to ensure that schools sign up for a secure messaging system and provide access to designated employees, such as school nurse supervisors, to access these safety plans. The boards must also submit their secure messaging system addresses to the Commissioner of Education. Starting July 1, 2027, the State Department of Education will provide guidance and training materials for new designated employees regarding these requirements. The bill also repeals and replaces subsection (b) of section 17b-59d of the general statutes to enhance the goals of the State-wide Health Information Exchange, ensuring secure access to patient health information across various healthcare settings.