2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 71.05.445: Mental health services information — Release to department of corrections — Initial assessment inquiry — Required notifications — 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 71.34 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 71.05.020 and receives funding from public sources. This includes evaluation and treatment facilities as defined in RCW 71.05.020, 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)(a) 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 purposes of completing presentence investigations or risk assessment reports, supervision of an incarcerated offender or offender under supervision in the community, planning for and provision of supervision of an offender, or assessment of an offender's risk to the community. The request shall be in writing and shall not require the consent of the subject of the records.

     (b) If an offender subject to chapter 9.94A or 9.95 RCW has failed to report for department of corrections supervision or in the event of an emergent situation that poses a significant risk to the public or the offender, information related to mental health services delivered to the offender and, if known, information regarding where the offender is likely to be found shall be released by the mental health services provider to the department of corrections upon request. The initial request may be written or oral. All oral requests must be subsequently confirmed in writing. Information released in response to an oral request is limited to a statement as to whether the offender is or is not being treated by the mental health services provider and the address or information about the location or whereabouts of the offender. Information released in response to a written request may include information identified by rule as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section. For purposes of this subsection a written request includes requests made by e-mail or facsimile so long as the requesting person at the department of corrections is clearly identified. The request must specify the information being requested. Disclosure of the information requested does not require the consent of the subject of the records unless the offender has received relief from disclosure under RCW 9.94A.562, 70.96A.155, or 71.05.132.

     (3)(a) When a mental health service provider conducts its initial assessment for a person receiving court-ordered treatment, the service provider shall inquire and shall be told by the offender whether he or she is subject to supervision by the department of corrections.

     (b) When a person receiving court-ordered treatment or treatment ordered by the department of corrections discloses to his or her mental health service provider that he or she is subject to supervision by the department of corrections, the mental health services provider shall notify the department of corrections that he or she is treating the offender and shall notify the offender that his or her community corrections officer will be notified of the treatment, provided that if the offender has received relief from disclosure pursuant to RCW 9.94A.562, 70.96A.155, or 71.05.132 and the offender has provided the mental health services provider with a copy of the order granting relief from disclosure pursuant to RCW 9.94A.562, 70.96A.155, or 71.05.132, the mental health services provider is not required to notify the department of corrections that the mental health services provider is treating the offender. The notification may be written or oral and shall not require the consent of the offender. If an oral notification is made, it must be confirmed by a written notification. For purposes of this section, a written notification includes notification by e-mail or facsimile, so long as the notifying mental health service provider is clearly identified.

     (4) 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.

     (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 chapter 71.05 RCW, 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 except under RCW 71.05.440.

     (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.

     (10) 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.

[2005 c 504 § 711; 2004 c 166 § 4; 2002 c 39 § 2; 2000 c 75 § 3.]

Findings -- Intent -- Severability -- Application -- Construction -- Captions, part headings, subheadings not law -- Adoption of rules -- Effective dates -- 2005 c 504: See notes following RCW 71.05.027.      Alphabetization--Correction of references--2005 c 504: See note following RCW 71.05.020.      Severability -- Effective dates -- 2004 c 166: See notes following RCW 71.05.040.      Intent -- 2000 c 75: "It is the intent of the legislature to 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 RCW by authorizing access to, and release or disclosure of, necessary information related to mental health services. This includes accessing and releasing or disclosing information of persons who received mental health services as a minor. The legislature does not intend this act to readdress access to information and records regarding continuity of care.      The legislature recognizes that persons with mental illness have a right to the confidentiality of information related to mental health services, including the fact of their receiving such services, unless there is a state interest that supersedes this right. It is the intent of the legislature to balance that right of the individual with the state interest to enhance public safety." [2000 c 75 § 1.]