Making juvenile detention records available to managed health care systems.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Boehnke and 1 co-sponsor

SB 6079 lets managed care orgs and BH-ASOs access juvenile detention records to coordinate care, while protecting privacy and limiting disclosures to care-related uses.

Effective date 6/6/2024.

Purpose and intent

Enables the records of individuals confined in juvenile detention facilities to be made available to managed care organizations (MCOs) and behavioral health administrative services organizations (BH-ASOs) for the purpose of care coordination.

Extends a framework already in place for adults (since 2020) to include juvenile detention facilities, with the goal of improving health care continuity and integration for youth in the juvenile justice system.

Key provisions

Records subject to disclosure: The receiving entity may access the records of a person in a juvenile detention facility, including the official juvenile court file, the social file, and other records of juvenile justice or care agencies in the case.

Use and confidentiality: The records may be disclosed solely for care coordination activities and must be held in confidence. Recipients must comply with all applicable state and federal privacy laws. Records disclosed under this bill retain confidentiality and may not be further disclosed unless permitted by law.

Entities covered: Managed care organizations and behavioral health administrative services organizations may receive juvenile detention records for care coordination purposes.

Scope of access: The bill mirrors, but expands beyond, existing access rights in the adult jail system (where access was authorized by 2020 legislation).

Related disclosures: The bill notes that records may continue to be disclosed in limited circumstances already allowed by law (e.g., to clinics, hospitals, and certain agencies for health care coordination in other contexts), and that confidentiality protections remain in place.

Affected parties

Youth in juvenile detention facilities: Their health care information may be shared with MCOs/BH-ASOs to coordinate care.

Juvenile justice and care agencies: Must maintain records securely and comply with confidentiality standards when sharing with authorized entities.

Managed care organizations and BH-ASOs: Gain access to relevant health and social records to facilitate care coordination and behavioral health services.

Timelines and procedural aspects

Legislative history: Introduced January 9, 2024; Passed the Senate (Feb 6, 2024) and the House (Feb 28, 2024); Signed by the Governor with enactment noted in March 2024.

Effective date: 90 days after adjournment of the 2024 legislative session, which corresponds to June 6, 2024, per official enactment records.

Appropriations: No new funding appropriation accompanying the bill.

Fiscal note: A fiscal note is available; no specific appropriation is required by the bill.

Context and impact

This reform aligns juvenile detention records sharing with the precedent set by the 2020 law for adults, supporting coordinated health care and behavioral health services for detained youth.

Supportive testimony highlighted the goal of ensuring every detention facility can work with managed care providers, promoting continuity of care and better health outcomes.

Overall, SB 6079 broadens access to juvenile detention records for eligible managed care entities to improve care coordination, while preserving confidentiality and privacy protections.

Bill