Bill > SB497

This bill provides comprehensive protections for individuals seeking or receiving gender-affirming healthcare in California, particularly against potential legal actions from other states. The bill prohibits healthcare providers, health plans, contractors, and employers from releasing medical information or cooperating with out-of-state investigations related to gender-affirming care for individuals or those helping children receive such care. Specifically, it prevents the issuance of subpoenas based on laws from other states that interfere with an individual's right to seek gender-affirming healthcare, and it restricts the sharing of data from the Controlled Substances Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) for purposes of investigating legally protected healthcare activities. The bill also makes it a misdemeanor to improperly access or share data from the CURES database. Furthermore, the legislation is designed to protect transgender and gender nonconforming individuals, their family members, and supporters from harassment and potential legal persecution from other jurisdictions. The bill takes effect immediately as an urgency statute, reflecting the legislature's view that these protections are necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety, particularly in response to ongoing efforts that might decrease legal protections for the transgender community.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB497