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.