(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

(1) “Gender-affirming health care” and “gender-affirming mental health care” have the same meaning as in paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of § 16010.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

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Terms Used In California Penal Code 13778.3

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Discovery: Lawyers' examination, before trial, of facts and documents in possession of the opponents to help the lawyers prepare for trial.
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See California Penal Code 7
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See California Penal Code 7
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the district and territories. See California Penal Code 7
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.

(2) “Legally protected health care activity” shall have the same meaning as in Section 1549.15.

(3) “Reproductive health care services” shall have the same meaning as in Section 1549.15.

(4) “California corporation” refers to any corporation or other entity that is subject to § 102 of the Corporations Code, with the exception of foreign corporations.

(b) A state or local government employee, person or entity contracted by a state or local government, or person or entity acting on behalf of a local or state government shall not cooperate with or provide information to any individual, including a bondsman or person authorized, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1299.02, to apprehend, detain, or arrest a fugitive admitted to bail in another state, or out-of-state agency or department regarding any legally protected health care activity or otherwise expend or use time, moneys, facilities, property, equipment, personnel, or other resources in furtherance of any investigation or proceeding that seeks to impose civil or criminal liability or professional sanctions upon a person or entity for any legally protected health care activity that occurred in this state or that would be legal if it occurred in this state.

(c) This section does not prohibit compliance with a valid, court-issued subpoena, warrant, wiretap order, pen register trap and trace order, or other legal process which does not relate to a law seeking to impose civil or criminal liability or professional sanctions for a legally protected health care activity, or in response to the written request of a person who is the subject of such an investigation or proceeding, to the extent necessary, in each case, to fulfill such request.

(d) Any out-of-state subpoena, warrant, wiretap order, pen register trap and trace order, legal process, or request from any law enforcement agent or entity shall include an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury that the discovery is not in connection with an out-of-state proceeding relating to any legally protected health care activity unless the out-of-state proceeding meets all of the following requirements:

(1) Is based in tort, contract, or on statute.

(2) Is actionable, in an equivalent or similar manner, under the laws of this state.

(3) Was brought by the patient who received a legally protected health care activity or the patient’s legal representative.

(e) A state court, judicial officer, court employee or clerk, or authorized attorney shall not issue a subpoena pursuant to any other state’s law unless it includes the affidavit or declaration defined in subdivision (d).

(f) A California corporation that provides electronic communication services or remote computing services to the general public shall not comply with an out of state subpoena, warrant, wiretap order, pen register trap and trace order, other legal process, or request by a law enforcement agent or entity seeking records that would reveal the identity of the customers using those services, data stored by, or on behalf of, the customer, the customer’s usage of those services, the recipient or destination of communications sent to or from those customers, or the content of those communications, unless the out of state subpoena, warrant, wiretap order, pen register trap and trace order, other legal process, or request from law enforcement includes the affidavit or declaration defined in subdivision (d). A corporation subject to this subdivision is entitled to rely on the representations made in the affidavit or declaration.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 260, Sec. 19. (SB 345) Effective January 1, 2024.)