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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a medication-assisted treatment program established by |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for inmates with opioid |
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use disorders. |
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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 501.071 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.071. MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT PROGRAM. (a) |
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In this section, "medication-assisted treatment" means the use of |
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medications approved by the United States Food and Drug |
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Administration for the treatment of opioid dependence, in |
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combination with counseling and behavioral therapies effective for |
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the treatment of opioid use disorders. |
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(b) The department shall establish a medication-assisted |
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treatment program under which: |
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(1) each inmate is assessed, during the diagnostic |
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process, for an opioid use disorder; and |
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(2) an inmate determined to have an opioid use |
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disorder is provided with the opportunity to receive |
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medication-assisted treatment. |
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(c) Medication-assisted treatment provided under the |
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program must be tailored to each individual inmate based on |
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clinical criteria. |
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(d) The program must provide for continuity of care by |
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ensuring that, as applicable: |
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(1) an inmate who is being treated with a medication |
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approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the |
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treatment of opioid dependence when the inmate enters custody of |
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the department is maintained on that medication under the program; |
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and |
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(2) on the release or discharge of an inmate receiving |
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a medication approved by the United States Food and Drug |
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Administration for the treatment of opioid dependence under the |
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program, the inmate is provided with a sufficient supply of the |
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medication during the inmate's transition to community treatment |
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for opioid use disorders. |
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(e) The program must provide an inmate receiving |
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medication-assisted treatment while confined with information |
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about available community treatment for opioid use disorders before |
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the inmate's release or discharge. |
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(f) The department may contract with a medication-assisted |
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treatment provider to administer all or part of the program |
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established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, but not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall establish the program required |
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by Section 501.071, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |