Local service teams would be allowed to share private information

Team members would be allowed to exchange confidential information to assess needs and connect people with housing and support services. The permission would cover exchanges among team members to identify and assess individuals and families experiencing homelessness and connect them with services. The permission would apply despite conflicting laws. Health care providers' sharing for these purposes would count as treatment activity under applicable law. Shared information would remain strictly confidential. Discussions and records of these communications could not be used as evidence in legal proceedings. Sharing could occur by phone, electronically, or in person, with reasonable steps to verify participants' identities. These provisions would take effect immediately if the bill becomes law.

Certain local governments would be allowed to establish or approve teams that connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and support services. The authorization would cover cities with at least one million residents and counties outside those cities. Teams would have at least two professionals trained to connect people experiencing homelessness with services. If a city requested participation in its county's team, the county would have to admit appropriate city staff unless their participation would materially hinder the team's goals.

Each team would have to write rules limiting information sharing and protecting people's privacy. Teams would have to reasonably limit shared information to what they need to assess people experiencing homelessness and connect them with housing and support services. Rules would cover access, secure sharing, record retention and disposal, confidentiality agreements, and ongoing privacy training. No state agency's advance approval would be required. The rules would have to comply with applicable state and federal law. Improper disclosure or use would be subject to available legal remedies, including civil penalties and court orders. Other legal privacy rights and duties would remain in place except where the bill expressly provides otherwise.