This bill amends existing laws regarding the collection of demographic information, specifically focusing on the sexual orientation and gender identity of minor patients in general acute care hospitals and clinical laboratories. It stipulates that these facilities shall not collect or request such data from patients under the age of 18 unless voluntarily provided by the patient or their parent or guardian. The data collected will be strictly for medical diagnosis and treatment purposes and not used for any other reason. Additionally, the bill mandates that electronic medical records and laboratory information management systems must be configured to allow the storage of demographic information without requiring a selection for gender identity and sexual orientation for minor patients.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the importance of cultural competency training for hospital staff who interact with patients and collect demographic data. It requires that these staff members complete a training program that covers various aspects of collecting sensitive information in a culturally competent manner. The bill also outlines the responsibilities of clinical laboratories in recording demographic data and includes provisions for penalties against vendors of electronic medical records systems that fail to comply with the new requirements. Overall, the intent of the bill is to protect the privacy of minor patients while ensuring that healthcare providers can still gather necessary information for effective treatment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2H-5.36, 45:9-42.46, 45:9-42.47