(a) When a custodial officer or staff person of a correctional institution, observes or is informed of activity in a correctional institution that is classified as causing, or known to cause, the transmission of the AIDS virus, as described in subdivision (b), he or she may file a written report with the facility’s chief medical officer which, in the case of city or county jails, shall be the county health officer.

(b) Reportable activities within a correctional institution for which a report may be filed pursuant to subdivision (a) include, but are not limited to, all of the following activities, if they could result in the transmission of AIDS, according to the standards provided for in this chapter:

(1) Sexual activity resulting in exchange of bodily fluids.

(2) IV drug use.

(3) Incidents involving injury to inmates or staff in which bodily fluids are exchanged.

(4) Tampering with medical and food supplies or medical or food equipment.

(5) Tattooing among inmates.

(c) The medical officer may investigate the report, conduct interviews, and determine whether the situation reported caused the probable exchange of body fluids in a manner that could result in the transmission of HIV, utilizing the criteria set forth in Section 7511, and pose a danger to the health and safety of the institution’s staff and inmate population.

If the chief medical officer concludes this may have occurred, he or she shall require HIV testing of any inmate which he or she deems necessary pursuant to the investigation. Whenever an inmate is required to undergo an HIV test pursuant to this subdivision, he or she may appeal that decision as provided for in Section 7515.

(d) Testing under this section may only be required by a unanimous vote of all three members of the panel. The rights guaranteed inmates under Section 7515 shall apply.

When a hearing is convened pursuant to this section, the hearing shall be closed, except that both the person filing the original report and the chief medical officer as well as other panel members may also call witnesses to testify at the hearing.

When a hearing is sought pursuant to this section, the decision shall be rendered within 20 days of the date the hearing is sought by the medical officer.

(e) This section shall apply to situations involving individual inmates or group situations but shall not be utilized to require testing of all inmates in a correctional institution.

(f) The findings of the panel shall be set forth in writing, including reasons for the panel’s decision, and shall be signed by the members of the panel. A copy of the decision shall be provided to the superintendent of the correctional institution, the subjects of the report and to any inmates or officers whom the panel concludes may have been exposed to HIV infection as established by provisions of this title.

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1579, Sec. 2. Effective September 30, 1988.)