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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the care of pregnant women in county jail or in the |
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custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 501.0668 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0668. DUTIES FOLLOWING MISCARRIAGE OR PHYSICAL OR |
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SEXUAL ABUSE OF PREGNANT INMATE. As soon as practicable after |
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receiving a report of a miscarriage or physical or sexual abuse of a |
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pregnant inmate, the department shall ensure that an appropriate |
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health care professional promptly: |
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(1) reviews the health care services provided to the |
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inmate; and |
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(2) orders additional health care services, including |
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mental health services, as the health care professional considers |
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appropriate. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 351, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 351.048 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 351.048. DUTIES FOLLOWING MISCARRIAGE OR PHYSICAL OR |
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SEXUAL ABUSE OF PREGNANT PRISONER. As soon as practicable after |
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receiving a report of a miscarriage or physical or sexual abuse of a |
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pregnant prisoner while in the custody of a county jail, the sheriff |
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shall ensure that an appropriate health care professional promptly: |
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(1) reviews the health care services provided to the |
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prisoner; and |
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(2) orders additional health care services, including |
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mental health services, as the health care professional considers |
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appropriate. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |