(a) No later than July 1, 2026, the department shall establish a process to designate qualified health information organizations as data-sharing intermediaries that have demonstrated their ability to meet requirements of the California Health and Human Services Data Exchange Framework. Health and social service organizations may comply with the data exchange framework by participating in and sharing information with a qualified health information organization.
(b) For purposes of this section, “qualified health information organization” means an entity that has applied for, and satisfied, the process and criteria described in subdivision (a).