This bill establishes strict regulations regarding the reporting of medical information for children, mandating that no such information can be shared with the Department of Health or any governmental entity without the express, informed, and written consent of a child's parent or legal guardian. The bill includes provisions that allow for exceptions in cases where a health care provider has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse, including sexual abuse.

Additionally, the bill amends several existing statutes related to various health registries, including those for autism, lead screening, hearing loss, and birth defects, to align with the new consent requirements. Specifically, it inserts language that prohibits the reporting of any child’s information to the Department of Health without parental consent, thereby enhancing the privacy protections for children's medical data. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2-103.6, 26:2-137.5, 26:2-186, 26:2H-144, 26:4-134, 26:8-40.22