89R8824 JDK-D
By: Meza H.B. No. 3937
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the treatment of certain inmates of 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 Section 501.0514 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.0514. REQUIREMENTS REGARDING TREATMENT OF
LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS. (a) In this section,
"life-threatening condition" means a medical condition affecting
an inmate that, without ongoing direct care by a physician, could
result in the death of the inmate. The term includes:
(1) viral or focal encephalitis;
(2) schizophrenia;
(3) brain tumors;
(4) glioblastomas;
(5) intracerebral hemorrhage;
(6) stroke;
(7) brain aneurysm;
(8) trigeminal neuralgia;
(9) acute liver failure; and
(10) cardiac arrest.
(b) The department shall adopt a policy requiring an inmate
suffering from a life-threatening condition to be under the ongoing
direct care of a physician in the relevant specialty.
(c) The policy must prohibit:
(1) an inmate being treated for a life-threatening
condition from being transferred to the care of a medical
professional who is not a physician unless the inmate's treating
physician authorizes the transfer in writing; and
(2) a medical professional who is not a physician from
changing any treatment, including a prescription medication,
ordered by the inmate's treating physician.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.