AB 2790 Summary

• Effective January 1, 2024, removes the requirement for health practitioners to report suspected domestic violence and sexual violence injuries to law enforcement, replacing it with a requirement to provide counseling, education, and referrals to survivor advocacy services.

• Health practitioners must still report to law enforcement injuries caused by self-inflicted wounds or firearms, but no longer must report assaultive or abusive conduct injuries (except as required by federal HIPAA provisions or at patient request).

• Requires health practitioners to offer "warm handoffs" (direct connections to advocate services) or referrals to domestic violence and sexual violence advocacy organizations before the end of a patient visit when abuse is suspected.

• Protects health care practitioners from civil or criminal liability for reports made in good faith and in compliance with the new provisions.

• Maintains existing requirements for health practitioners to report child abuse and elder/vulnerable adult abuse under separate California law.