(a) Alternative payment programs and providers operating or providing services pursuant to this chapter may maintain records electronically, in compliance with state and federal standards, as determined by the department. Any conversion from a paper record to an electronic format, as well as the storage of the electronic record, shall comply with the minimum standards described in § 12168.7 of the Government Code and the standards for trustworthy electronic document or record preservation described in Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 22620.1) of Division 7 of Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations.

(b) The records shall be retained by each contractor for at least five years, or, where an audit has been requested by a state agency, until the date the audit is resolved, whichever is longer.

(c) This section does not require an alternative payment program or provider to create records electronically.

(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 116, Sec. 260. (AB 131) Effective July 23, 2021.)