Amend HB 26 (house committee printing) as follows:

(1)  On page 1, line 16, between "SECTION 2." and "Section 501.063", insert "(a)".

(2)  On page 3, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:

(b)  Effective September 1, 2015, Section 501.063, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 501.063.  INMATE COPAYMENTS FOR CERTAIN HEALTH CARE VISITS. (a) An inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the department, other than a halfway house, who initiates a visit to a health care provider shall make a copayment to the department in the amount of $3. The inmate shall make the copayment out of the inmate's trust fund. If the balance in the fund is insufficient to cover the copayment, 50 percent of each deposit to the fund shall be applied toward the balance owed until the total amount owed is paid.

(b)  The department may not charge a copayment for health care:

(1)  provided in response to a life-threatening or emergency situation affecting the inmate's health;

(2)  initiated by the department;

(3)  initiated by the health care provider or consisting of routine follow-up, prenatal, or chronic care; or

(4)  provided under a contractual obligation that is established under the Interstate Corrections Compact or under an agreement with another state that precludes assessing a copayment.

(c)  The department shall adopt policies to ensure that before an inmate initiates a visit to a health care provider, the inmate is informed that a $3 copayment will be deducted from the inmate's trust fund as required by Subsection (a).

(d)  The department may not deny an inmate access to health care as a result of the inmate's failure or inability to make a copayment.

(e)  The department shall deposit money received under this section in an account in the general revenue fund that may be used only to pay the cost of administering this section. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the comptroller shall transfer any surplus from the preceding fiscal year to the state treasury to the credit of the general revenue fund.