WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

71.34.345 - Mental health services information -- Release to department of corrections -- Rules.

Mental health services information — Release to department of corrections — Rules.

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

     (a) "Information related to mental health services" means all information and records compiled, obtained, or maintained in the course of providing services to either voluntary or involuntary recipients of services by a mental health service provider. This may include documents of legal proceedings under this chapter or chapter 71.05 or 10.77 RCW, or somatic health care information.

     (b) "Mental health service provider" means a public or private agency that provides services to persons with mental disorders as defined under RCW 71.34.020 and receives funding from public sources. This includes evaluation and treatment facilities as defined in RCW 71.34.020, community mental health service delivery systems, or community mental health programs, as defined in RCW 71.24.025, and facilities conducting competency evaluations and restoration under chapter 10.77 RCW.

     (2) Information related to mental health services delivered to a person subject to chapter 9.94A or 9.95 RCW shall be released, upon request, by a mental health service provider to department of corrections personnel for whom the information is necessary to carry out the responsibilities of their office. The information must be provided only for the purpose of completing presentence investigations, supervision of an incarcerated person, planning for and provision of supervision of a person, or assessment of a person's risk to the community. The request shall be in writing and shall not require the consent of the subject of the records.

     (3) The information to be released to the department of corrections shall include all relevant records and reports, as defined by rule, necessary for the department of corrections to carry out its duties, including those records and reports identified in subsection (2) of this section.

     (4) The department shall, subject to available resources, electronically, or by the most cost-effective means available, provide the department of corrections with the names, last dates of services, and addresses of specific regional support networks and mental health service providers that delivered mental health services to a person subject to chapter 9.94A or 9.95 RCW pursuant to an agreement between the departments.

     (5) The department and the department of corrections, in consultation with regional support networks, mental health service providers as defined in subsection (1) of this section, mental health consumers, and advocates for persons with mental illness, shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this section related to the type and scope of information to be released. These rules shall:

     (a) Enhance and facilitate the ability of the department of corrections to carry out its responsibility of planning and ensuring community protection with respect to persons subject to sentencing under chapter 9.94A or 9.95 RCW, including accessing and releasing or disclosing information of persons who received mental health services as a minor; and

     (b) Establish requirements for the notification of persons under the supervision of the department of corrections regarding the provisions of this section.

     (6) The information received by the department of corrections under this section shall remain confidential and subject to the limitations on disclosure outlined in RCW 71.34.340, except as provided in RCW 72.09.585.

     (7) No mental health service provider or individual employed by a mental health service provider shall be held responsible for information released to or used by the department of corrections under the provisions of this section or rules adopted under this section.

     (8) Whenever federal law or federal regulations restrict the release of information contained in the treatment records of any patient who receives treatment for alcoholism or drug dependency, the release of the information may be restricted as necessary to comply with federal law and regulations.

     (9) This section does not modify the terms and conditions of disclosure of information related to sexually transmitted diseases under chapter 70.24 RCW.