CA AB3221

Requires health care service plan records to be open for inspection by the director including through electronic means, with records in electronic media furnished in digital format and digitally searchable to the greatest extent feasible.

Mandates plans conduct diligent review of records and make every effort to furnish responsive documents to director requests, and requires preservation of records if requested by the department.

Authorizes the director to seek relief through administrative law proceedings if a plan fails to fully or timely respond to authorized requests for records, and adds this failure as grounds for disciplinary action against plans.

Clarifies that the director may take enforcement actions and open investigations in response to survey results before followup reviews are completed, and requires followup reviews within 18 months of final report release.

Specifies that willful violations constitute a crime, creating a state-mandated local program with no state reimbursement required under existing constitutional provisions.