CT HB06287

Requires health care professionals and hospitals to file petitions with the Department of Public Health within 30 days of discovering information that a health care professional may be unable to practice safely due to physical illness, mental illness, substance abuse, incompetence, or license violations.

Health care professionals must notify the Department of Public Health within 30 days of arrest for drug or alcohol possession, or diagnosis of mental illness or behavioral disorder; notification to the assistance program satisfies this requirement.

Health care professionals must report to the department within 30 days any disciplinary actions taken against them by professional licensing agencies in other states or jurisdictions, with failure to report potentially constituting grounds for disciplinary action.

Provides liability protection without a showing of malice for health care professionals, hospitals, and persons filing petitions or providing information to the department or assistance program.

Department must investigate petitions within 18 months; investigations remain confidential until completion unless the professional requests public disclosure, with records becoming public if probable cause is found.