By Staples H.B. No. 214 75R2082 PEP-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the provision of health care to an inmate confined in 1-3 the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal 1-4 Justice. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 501.061 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 501.061. INMATE COPAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE 1-9 VISITS. (a) An inmate confined in the institutional division who 1-10 initiates a visit to a health care provider shall make a copayment 1-11 to the department in the amount of $3. The inmate shall make the 1-12 copayment out of the inmate's trust fund. If the balance in the 1-13 fund is insufficient to cover the copayment, 50 percent of each 1-14 deposit to the fund shall be applied toward the balance owed until 1-15 the total amount owed is paid. 1-16 (b) A copayment may not be charged for health care: 1-17 (1) provided in response to a life-threatening or 1-18 emergency situation affecting the inmate's health; 1-19 (2) initiated by the department; 1-20 (3) initiated by the health care provider or 1-21 consisting of routine follow-up care; or 1-22 (4) provided under a contractual obligation that is 1-23 established under the Interstate Corrections Compact or under an 1-24 agreement with another state that precludes assessing a copayment. 2-1 (c) The department may not deny an inmate access to health 2-2 care as a result of the inmate's failure or inability to make a 2-3 copayment. 2-4 (d) The department shall deposit money received under this 2-5 section in an account in the general revenue fund that may be used 2-6 only to pay the cost of administering this section. At the 2-7 beginning of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer any 2-8 surplus from the preceding fiscal year to the credit of the 2-9 compensation to victims of crime fund in the state treasury created 2-10 under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure. 2-11 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.