1-1 By: Shapiro S.B. No. 203 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 15, 1997; January 16, 1997, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; 1-4 February 12, 1997, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0; 1-6 February 12, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 203 By: Zaffirini 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to the provision of health care to an inmate confined in 1-11 the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal 1-12 Justice. 1-13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-14 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is 1-15 amended by adding Section 501.061 to read as follows: 1-16 Sec. 501.061. INMATE COPAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE 1-17 VISITS. (a) An inmate confined in an institution of the Texas 1-18 Department of Criminal Justice who initiates a visit to a health 1-19 care provider shall make a copayment to the department in the 1-20 amount of $3. The inmate shall make the copayment out of the 1-21 inmate's trust fund. If the balance in the fund is insufficient to 1-22 cover the copayment, 50 percent of each deposit to the fund shall 1-23 be applied toward the balance owed until the total amount owed is 1-24 paid. 1-25 (b) A copayment shall not be charged for health care: 1-26 (1) provided in response to a life-threatening or 1-27 emergency situation affecting the inmate's health; 1-28 (2) initiated by the department; 1-29 (3) initiated by the health care provider or 1-30 consisting of routine follow-up care; or 1-31 (4) provided under a contractual obligation that is 1-32 established under the Interstate Corrections Compact or under an 1-33 agreement with another state that precludes assessing a copayment. 1-34 (c) The department shall not deny an inmate access to health 1-35 care as a result of the inmate's failure or inability to make a 1-36 copayment. 1-37 (d) The department shall deposit money received under this 1-38 section in an account in the general revenue fund that may be used 1-39 only to pay the cost of administering this section. At the 1-40 beginning of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer any 1-41 surplus from the preceding fiscal year to the credit of the 1-42 compensation to victims of crime fund in the state treasury created 1-43 under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure. 1-44 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 1998. 1-45 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-46 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-47 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-48 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-49 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-50 * * * * *