Connecticut HB 5388: AN ACT CREATING A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR.

Bill Text

LCO 2278 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5388
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2278

Referred to Committee on LABOR AND PUBLIC
EMPLOYEES

Introduced by:
(LAB)

AN ACT CONCERNING PROCESSING FEES FOR MEDICAL
RECORDS FOR APPLICATIONS FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 20-7c of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
1, 2026): 3
(d) Upon a written request of a patient, a patient's attorney or 4
authorized representative, or pursuant to a written authorization, a 5
provider, except as provided in section 4-194, shall furnish to the person 6
making such request a copy of the patient's health record, including but 7
not limited to, bills, x-rays and copies of laboratory reports, contact lens 8
specifications based on examinations and final contact lens fittings 9
given within the preceding three months or such longer period of time 10
as determined by the provider but no longer than six months, records of 11
prescriptions and other technical information used in assessing the 12
patient's health condition. No provider shall refuse to return to a patient 13
original records or copies of records that the patient has brought to the 14

Raised Bill No. 5388

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provider from another provider. When returning records to a patient, a 15
provider may retain copies of such records for the provider's file, 16
provided such provider does not charge the patient for the costs 17
incurred in copying such records. No provider shall charge more than 18
sixty-five cents per page, including any research fees, handling fees or 19
related costs, and the cost of first class postage, if applicable, for 20
furnishing a health record pursuant to this subsection, except such 21
provider may charge a patient the amount necessary to cover the cost of 22
materials for furnishing a copy of an x-ray, provided no such charge 23
shall be made for furnishing a health record or part thereof to a patient, 24
a patient's attorney or authorized representative if the record or part 25
thereof is necessary for the purpose of supporting a claim or appeal 26
under any provision of the Social Security Act or a claim or appeal for 27
veterans' benefits under any provision of Title 38 of the United States 28
Code or chapter 506 or application for disability retirement benefits 29
under the state employees retirement system and the request is 30
accompanied by documentation of the claim or appeal or application. A 31
provider shall furnish a health record requested pursuant to this section 32
within thirty days of the request. No health care provider, who has 33
purchased or assumed the practice of a provider who is retiring or 34
deceased, may refuse to return original records or copied records to a 35
patient who decides not to seek care from the successor provider. When 36
returning records to a patient who has decided not to seek care from a 37
successor provider, such provider may not charge a patient for costs 38
incurred in copying the records of the retired or deceased provider. 39
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 20-7c(d)

LAB Joint Favorable