By: Shapiro, Gallegos S.B. No. 203 Galloway A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the provision of health care to an inmate confined in 1-2 the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal 1-3 Justice. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 501.061 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 501.061. INMATE COPAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE 1-8 VISITS. (a) An inmate confined in an institution of the Texas 1-9 Department of Criminal Justice who initiates a visit to a health 1-10 care provider shall make a copayment to the department in the 1-11 amount of $3. The inmate shall make the copayment out of the 1-12 inmate's trust fund. If the balance in the fund is insufficient to 1-13 cover the copayment, 50 percent of each deposit to the fund shall 1-14 be applied toward the balance owed until the total amount owed is 1-15 paid. 1-16 (b) A copayment shall 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 2-1 agreement with another state that precludes assessing a copayment. 2-2 (c) The department shall not deny an inmate access to health 2-3 care as a result of the inmate's failure or inability to make a 2-4 copayment. 2-5 (d) The department shall deposit money received under this 2-6 section in an account in the general revenue fund that may be used 2-7 only to pay the cost of administering this section. At the 2-8 beginning of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer any 2-9 surplus from the preceding fiscal year to the credit of the 2-10 compensation to victims of crime fund in the state treasury created 2-11 under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure. 2-12 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 1998. 2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.