4. a. Unless required by State or federal law, a long-term care facility shall not disclose any personal identifying information regarding: (1) a resident’s sexual orientation; (2) whether a resident is transgender or undesignated/non-binary; (3) a resident’s gender transition status; (4) a resident’s intersex status; or (5) a resident’s HIV status.

The facility shall take appropriate steps to minimize the likelihood of inadvertent or accidental disclosure of such information to other residents, visitors, or facility staff, except to the minimum extent necessary for facility staff to perform their duties.

b. Unless expressly authorized by the resident or the resident’s authorized representative, long-term facility staff not directly involved in providing direct care to a resident, including, but not limited to, a transgender, undesignated/non-binary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming resident, shall not be present during a physical examination of, or the provision of personal care to, that resident if the resident is partially or fully unclothed. A facility shall use doors, curtains, screens, or other effective visual barriers to provide bodily privacy for all residents, including, but not limited to, transgender, undesignated/non-binary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming residents, whenever they are partially or fully unclothed.

c. Informed consent shall be required in relation to any non-therapeutic examination or observation of, or treatment provided to, a resident of the facility.

d. Transgender residents shall be provided access to such transition-related assessments, therapy, and treatments as have been recommended by the resident’s health care provider, including, but not limited to, transgender-related medical care, including hormone therapy and supportive counseling.

L.2021, c.33, s.4.