California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §121110: (a) Any person who negligently discloses the content of any confidential research record, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121125, to any third party, except pursuant to this chapter, shall be

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Unauthorized disclosure of confidential research records carries civil penalties for negligent disclosure, higher civil penalties for willful/malicious disclosure, and criminal misdemeanor liability if disclosure causes harm to the research subject.

Read the full statutory text

(a) Any person who negligently discloses the content of any confidential research record, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121125, to any third party, except pursuant to this chapter, shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), plus court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs shall be paid to the subject of the test. (b) Any person who willfully or maliciously discloses the content of any confidential research record, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121125, to any third party, except pursuant to this chapter, shall be assessed a civil penalty in an amount not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), plus court costs, as determined by the court, which penalty and costs shall be paid to the subject of the test. (c) Any person who willfully, maliciously, or negligently discloses the content of any confidential research record, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 121125, to a third party, except pursuant to this chapter, that results in economic, bodily, or psychological harm to the research subject, is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed one year, or a fine of not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), or both. (d) Any person who commits any act described in subdivision (a) or (b) shall be liable to the subject for all actual damages for economic, bodily, or psychological harm that is a proximate result of the act. (e) Any person who negligently or willfully violates Section 121105 is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25). (f) Each violation of this chapter is a separate and actionable offense. (g) Nothing in this section limits or expands the right of an injured research subject to recover damages under any other applicable law.

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