§ 1955. — 1955. (Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 456, Sec. 43.)

(a)
(1)
A licensee who fails or refuses to comply with a request for a patient’s dental or dental hygiene records that is accompanied by that patient’s written authorization for release of the records to the dental hygiene board, within 15 days of receiving the request and authorization, shall pay to the dental hygiene board a civil or administrative penalty or fine up to a maximum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per day for each day that the documents have not been produced after the 15th day, up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) unless the licensee is unable to provide the documents within this time period for good cause.
(2)
A health care
facility shall comply with a request for the dental or dental hygiene records of a patient that is accompanied by that patient’s written authorization for release of records to the dental hygiene board together with a notice citing this section and describing the penalties for failure to comply with this section. Failure to provide the authorizing patient’s dental hygiene records to the dental hygiene board within 30 days of receiving this request, authorization, and notice shall subject the health care facility to a civil or administrative penalty or fine, payable to the dental hygiene board, of up to a maximum of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per day for each day that the documents have not been produced after the 30th day, up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), unless the health care facility is unable to provide the documents within this time period for good cause. This paragraph
shall not require health care facilities to assist the dental hygiene board in obtaining the patient’s authorization. The dental hygiene board shall pay the reasonable cost of copying the dental hygiene records.
(b)
(1)
A licensee who fails or refuses to comply with a court order issued in the enforcement of a subpoena mandating the release of records to the dental hygiene board shall pay to the dental hygiene board a civil penalty of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for each day that the documents have not been produced after the date by which the court order requires the documents to be produced, unless it is determined that the order is unlawful or invalid. Any statute of limitations applicable to the filing of an accusation by the dental hygiene board shall be tolled during the period the licensee is out of
compliance with the court order and during any related appeals.
(2)
A licensee who fails or refuses to comply with a court order issued in the enforcement of a subpoena mandating the release of records to the dental hygiene board is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine payable to the dental hygiene board not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). The fine shall be added to the licensee’s renewal fee if it is not paid by the next succeeding renewal date. Any statute of limitations applicable to the filing of an accusation by the dental hygiene board shall be tolled during the period the licensee is out of compliance with the court order and during any related appeals.
(3)
A health care facility that fails or refuses to comply with a court order issued in the
enforcement of a subpoena mandating the release of patient records to the dental hygiene board, that is accompanied by a notice citing this section and describing the penalties for failure to comply with this section, shall pay to the dental hygiene board a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for each day that the documents have not been produced, up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), after the date by which the court order requires the documents to be produced, unless it is determined that the order is unlawful or invalid. Any statute of limitations applicable to the filing of an accusation by the dental hygiene board against a licensee shall be tolled during the period the health care facility is out of compliance with the court order and during any related appeals.
(4)
A health care facility that fails or
refuses to comply with a court order, issued in the enforcement of a subpoena, mandating the release of records to the dental hygiene board is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine payable to the dental hygiene board not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). Any statute of limitations applicable to the filing of an accusation by the dental hygiene board against a licensee shall be tolled during the period the health care facility is out of compliance with the court order and during any related appeals.
(c)
Multiple acts by a licensee in violation of subdivision (b) shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months, or by both that fine and imprisonment. Multiple acts by a health care facility in violation of subdivision (b) shall be punishable
by a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) and shall be reported to the State Department of Public Health and shall be considered as grounds for disciplinary action with respect to licensure, including suspension or revocation of the license or permit.
(d)
A failure or refusal to comply with a court order issued in the enforcement of a subpoena mandating the release of records to the dental hygiene board constitutes unprofessional conduct and is grounds for suspension or revocation of the person’s license.
(e)
Imposition of the civil or administrative penalties authorized by this section shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).
(f)
For the purposes of this section, a “health care facility” means a clinic or health care facility licensed or exempt from licensure pursuant to Division 2 (commencing with Section 1200) of the Health and Safety Code.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 456, Sec. 43. (SB 786) Effective January 1, 2020.