SENATE BILL 311

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Phil A. Griego

AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY; AMENDING THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TEST ACT TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DISCLOSE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TEST RESULTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS SURVEILLANCE, INVESTIGATION AND INTERVENTION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 24-2B-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 227, Section 4) is amended to read:

     "24-2B-4. MANDATORY COUNSELING.--No positive test result shall be revealed to the person upon whom the test was performed without [the person performing the test or the health facility at which the test was performed] providing or referring that person for individual counseling about:

          A. the meaning of the test results;

          B. the possible need for additional testing;

          C. the availability of appropriate health care services, including mental health care, social and support services; and

          D. the benefits of locating and counseling any individual by whom the infected person may have been exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus and any individual whom the infected person may have exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus."

     SECTION 2. Section 24-2B-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 227, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "24-2B-6. CONFIDENTIALITY.--

          A. No person or the person's agents or employees who require or administer the test shall disclose the identity of any person upon whom a test is performed or the result of such a test in a manner that permits identification of the subject of the test, except to the following persons:

                (1) the subject of the test or the subject's legally authorized representative, guardian or legal custodian;

                (2) any person designated in a legally effective release of the test results executed prior to or after the test by the subject of the test or the subject's legally authorized representative;

                (3) an authorized agent, a credentialed or privileged physician or employee of a health facility or health care provider if the health care facility or health care provider itself is authorized to obtain the test results, the agent or employee provides patient care or handles or processes specimens of body fluids or tissues and the agent or employee has a need to know such information;

                (4) the department of health in accordance with reporting requirements established by regulation;

                (5) the department of health for the purpose of providing partner services;

                (6) a health facility or health care provider that procures, processes, distributes or uses:

                     (a) a human body part from a deceased person, with respect to medical information regarding that person;

                     (b) semen provided prior to the effective date of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test Act for the purpose of artificial insemination;

                     (c) blood or blood products for transfusion or injection; or

                     (d) human body parts for transplant with respect to medical information regarding the donor or recipient;

                (7) health facility staff committees or accreditation or oversight review organizations that are conducting program monitoring, program evaluation or service reviews, so long as any identity remains confidential;

                (8) authorized medical or epidemiological researchers who may not further disclose any identifying characteristics or information; and

(9) for purposes of application or

reapplication for insurance coverage, an insurer or reinsurer upon whose request the test was performed.

           B. The department of health may disclose human immunodeficiency virus test results, including the identity of any person upon whom a test is performed:

                (1) to the subject of the test or the subject's legally authorized representative, guardian or legal custodian;

                (2) to the person who ordered the test or that person's agents or employees;

                (3) in the conduct of public health practice, to appropriate municipal, county, state, federal or tribal public health agencies having at least equivalent security and confidentiality standards for human immunodeficiency virus test results as maintained by the department of health; and

                (4) to health care personnel where necessary to protect the health of the individual who is the subject of the test or an individual who was significantly exposed to the subject of the test.

          [B.] C. For the purposes of this section:

                (1) "partner services" means a protocol that the department of health establishes by regulation similar to those protocols and regulations for other reportable sexually transmitted diseases for contacting individuals whom it identifies to be at risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection due to contact with an individual whom it has identified, through reporting made pursuant to Paragraph (4) or (5) of Subsection A of this section, as having been infected with human immunodeficiency virus; [and]

                (2) "test" means a procedure that definitively diagnoses the presence of human immunodeficiency virus infection, either through the detection of the virus itself or the detection of antibodies against the virus; and

                (3) "public health practice" means a population-based activity or individual effort aimed primarily at the prevention of injury, disease or premature mortality or the promotion of health in a community, including:

                     (a) surveillance and response; and

                     (b) developing public health policy."

     SECTION 3. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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