Bill > HB1378

This bill establishes that parents or legal guardians are generally entitled to full access to their minor child's medical records, including both physical and electronic records like online patient portals. The bill recognizes parents' responsibility for coordinating their child's medical care and presumes they act in the child's best interest. However, there are three specific exceptions where parents may be denied access: first, when the records involve medical treatment that a minor can legally consent to without parental permission; second, when a protective order has been issued involving the child or a sibling, or a court has determined that parental access is not in the child's best interest; and third, when a healthcare provider has documented evidence-based facts suggesting that disclosure to the parent could potentially result in abuse or neglect. In the third exception, the healthcare provider must specifically document the articulable facts supporting their determination. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and it amends existing law to create a new section specifically addressing parental access to minor children's medical records.