88R9204 MZM-D
By: West S.B. No. 1146
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the medical transportation and care for certain inmates
in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 501.0515 and 501.071 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.0515. PROCEDURES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF FEMALE
INMATES FOR MEDICAL CARE. The department shall establish
procedures to be used during the regularly scheduled transportation
of female inmates for nonemergency medical care to The University
of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston or another medical facility
that provides medical services for inmates. The procedures must:
(1) prohibit the use of restraints around the ankles,
legs, wrists, or waist of a female inmate in a manner that connects
the inmate to another inmate;
(2) prohibit a correctional officer from conducting an
invasive body cavity search of a female inmate unless the officer
has a reasonable belief that the inmate is concealing contraband;
(3) require a correctional officer who conducts a
search described by Subdivision (2) to submit a written report to
the warden in the manner prescribed by Section 501.0665(b);
(4) allow female inmates to bring toilet paper and
feminine hygiene products as defined by Section 501.0675;
(5) ensure that female inmates receive sufficient
food;
(6) ensure that facilities used to house female
inmates overnight while being transported have an adequate number
of beds for the inmates being transported; and
(7) ensure that buses used to transport female inmates
are equipped with bathrooms that have ergonomically designed
toilets and afford privacy to the user.
Sec. 501.071. ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH
SERVICES AND ON-SITE MEDICAL CARE. The department, in conjunction
with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, shall establish
procedures to increase opportunities and expand access to
telemedicine medical services and telehealth services, as those
terms are defined by Section 111.001, Occupations Code, and on-site
medical care for inmates, including on-site mobile care units that
provide diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and other
appropriate mobile health services.
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall establish the procedures
required by Sections 501.0515 and 501.071, Government Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice shall submit a report to the
legislature on the department's progress in increasing
opportunities and expanding access to telemedicine medical
services and telehealth services and on-site medical care for
inmates under Section 501.071, Government Code, as added by this
Act, including a summary of the procedures established under that
section and the number of inmates who received services or care
under those procedures.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.