HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Branch

California Code of Regulations

Title 17. Public Health | Division 1. State Department of Health Services | Chapter 4. Preventative Medical Services | Subchapter 1. Reportable Diseases and Conditions | Article 1. Reporting

The following is the text of the law that mandates reporting, and instructions for how to report a case:

2500. Reporting to the Local Health Authority

2500 (a) (15) 'Health care provider’ means a physician and surgeon, a veterinarian, a podiatrist, a nurse practitioner, a physician assistant, a registered nurse, a nurse midwife, a school nurse, an infection control practitioner, a medical examiner, a coroner, or a dentist.

2500 (b) It shall be the duty of every health care provider, knowing or in attendance on a case or suspected case of any of the diseases or conditions listed below, to report to the local health officer for the jurisdiction where the patient resides. Where no health care provider is in attendance, any individual having the knowledge of a person who is suspected to be suffering from one of the diseases or conditions listed below may make such a report to the local health officer for the jurisdiction where the patient resides.

2500 (c) The administrator of each health facility, clinic or other setting where more than one health care provider may know of a case, a suspected case or an outbreak of disease within the facility shall establish and be responsible for administrative procedures to assure that reports are made to the local health officer.

2500(d) Each report made pursuant to subsection (b) shall include all of the following information if known:

(1) Name of the disease or condition being reported; the date of onset; the date of diagnosis; the name, address, telephone number, occupation, race, ethnicity, Social Security number, current gender identity*, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, pregnancy status, hospitalization status, age, and date of birth for the case or suspected case; the date of death if death has occurred; and the name, address and telephone number of the person making the report.
 

*Note: Sexual orientation and gender identity are required data elements for provider reports:

• Current gender identity (choices are: Male; Female; Trans male/Transman; Trans female/Transwoman; Genderqueer or non-binary; Identity not listed; Declined to answer; Unknown)
  • Sex assigned at birth (choices are: Male; Female; Declined to answer; Unknown)
  • Sexual orientation (choices are: Heterosexual or straight; Bisexual; Gay, lesbian, or same gender loving; Orientation not listed; Questioning/unsure/patient doesn’t know; Declined to answer; Unknown)
• Race and ethnicity are separate data elements in provider reports.
• Laboratories are required to report race and ethnicity information. (Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Section 2505 (b)(c) Notification by Laboratories) 

For more information, 
please call (619) 692-8501 or send us an email.

Last updated February 2, 2026.