Senate Bill 1146
Senate Author: West et al.
Effective: 9-1-23
House Sponsor: Klick et al.
Senate Bill 1146 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to 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 (UTMB) or another medical facility that provides medical services for inmates. The bill sets out requirements relating to performing searches that conform with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003; transportation that is equipped with bathrooms, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products; sufficient food and nutrition; and overnight stays with an adequate number of beds. The bill requires TDCJ, in conjunction with UTMB and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, to establish procedures to increase opportunities and expand access to telemedicine medical services, telehealth services, and on‑site medical care for inmates.