BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 812

By: White

Corrections

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that the $100 health care services fee paid by certain inmates to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that covers inmate-initiated visits to a health care provider until the first anniversary of the fee's imposition may prove burdensome to some inmates and dissuade them from seeking needed medical attention. H.B. 812 seeks to address these concerns by changing the inmate fee for health care to $3 per visit.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 812 amends the Government Code to change the health care services fee required to be paid by an inmate confined in a facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), other than a halfway house, to TDCJ for a visit initiated by the inmate to a health care provider from $100 for all such visits until the first anniversary of the imposition of the fee to $3 per visit.

H.B. 812 repeals Section 501.063(a)(2), Government Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.