HB916--PROTECTIONOFVULNERABLEPERSONS
SPONSOR: Perkins
Currently,individualsconvictedunderfederalorstatelawofa
felonyoffenseinvolvingpossession,distribution,oruseofa
controlledsubstanceareprohibitedfromparticipationinthe
SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram(SNAP).Thisbill
repealsthatprohibition,allowingthoseindividualstoaccessSNAP
benefits.
Thebillprohibitsallcountyandcityjails,exceptin
extraordinarycircumstances, fromusingrestraintsonapregnant
offenderinherthirdtrimester,includingduringtransportation or
labor,delivery,and48hourspost-delivery.
Incasesofextraordinarycircumstancesthatrequirerestraintsto
beused,thesherifforjailermustdocument,inwritingandwithin
48hoursoftheincident,thereasonfortherestraintsused,as
specifiedinthebill.Ifrestraintsareused,theymustbethe
leastrestrictiveavailableandthemostreasonableunderthe
circumstances. Noleg,ankle,orwaistrestraints,ormechanical
restraintscanbeused;anywristrestraintsusedmustbeplacedin
frontoftheoffender'sbody.Ifadoctor,nurse,orotherhealth
careprovidertreatingthepregnantoffenderduringthistime
requeststhatrestraintsnotbeused,thesherifforjailer
accompanyingtheoffendermustimmediatelyremoveallrestraints.
Pregnantoffendersarerequiredtobetransportedinvehicles
equippedwithseatbelts. Jailsmustofferstafftrainingonthe
provisionsofthisbillandinformoffendersofthepoliciesand
practicesforrestraintsonpregnantoffenders.
ByJanuary1,2026,allcountyandcityjailsmustdevelopspecific
proceduresforintakeandcareofpregnantoffenders,includingthe
provisionofmaternalhealthevaluations;dietarysupplements;
meals;substanceabusetreatment;HIVtreatment;HepatitisC
treatment;sleepingarrangements;mentalhealthcare;sanitary
materials;andpostpartumrecovery.
Currently,astatementmadebyachildunder14yearsofagemaybe
admissibleincriminalproceedings,undercertaincircumstances.
Thisbillamendstheagetoachildunder18yearsofage.
Additionally,thebillprovidesthatvisualoraudiorecordingsof
achildunder18yearsofageoravulnerableperson,asdefinedin
thebill,andrelatingtocertaincriminaloffensesareadmissible
incriminalproceedingsundercertaincircumstances, asspecified
inthebill. ThisbillissimilartoHB1777(2024).