(a) An officer of a financial institution, within the meaning of Section 1101(1) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3401(1)), shall furnish the State Department of Health Care Services or its designee with information in the possession of the bank or company regarding the assets of any person who is applying for, or is receiving assistance or benefits from, the State Department of Health Care Services and has provided authorization pursuant to Section 14013.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) The obtaining of financial records by the State Department of Health Care Services, or its designee, pursuant to this section shall be subject to the cost reimbursement requirements of Section 1115(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3415(a)) and shall be at no cost to the applicant, recipient, or any other person, as defined in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 14013.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(c) An authorization obtained by the State Department of Health Care Services, or its designee, under Section 14013.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be considered as meeting the requirements of Section 1103(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3403(a)) and, notwithstanding Section 1104(a) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3404(a)), need not be furnished to the financial institution.

(d) The certification requirements of Section 1103(b) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3403(b)) shall not apply to requests by the State Department of Health Care Services, or its designee, pursuant to an authorization provided under Section 14013.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e) A request by the State Department of Health Care Services, or its designee, pursuant to an authorization provided under Section 14013.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code shall be deemed to meet the requirements of Section 1104(a)(3) of the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3404(a)(3)) and of Section 1102 of the act (12 U.S.C. Sec. 3402), relating to a reasonable description of financial records.

(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 243, Sec. 2. (SB 664) Effective January 1, 2012.)