CA AB2786

Removes the statutory list of specific reportable diseases (diphtheria, listeria, salmonella, etc.) and authorizes the State Department of Public Health to establish and modify the reportable disease list without going through standard administrative rulemaking procedures, after consulting with local health officers.

Requires clinical laboratories to submit cultures or specimens of specified communicable diseases to local and state public health laboratories for characterization, with the department authorized to modify this list without formal rulemaking, filed with Secretary of State and published in California Code of Regulations.

Limits penalty exemptions for failure to report diseases to licensed physicians and surgeons and clinical laboratories only, requiring the State Department of Public Health to notify them and publish the disease requirement in the California Code of Regulations at least 6 months before imposing penalties.

Expands disclosure provisions for HIV/AIDS public health records to include information about coinfections with tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, and increases maximum civil penalties for negligent disclosure from $5,000 to range between $5,000-$25,000 for willful or malicious disclosure.

Requires electronic reporting of laboratory results commencing July 1, 2009 or within one year of establishing a state electronic laboratory reporting system, with exceptions for HIV infection reports.