88R10216 MCF-D
 
  By: Anchía, Sherman, Sr., Howard, Frazier, H.B. No. 3547
      et al.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the required approval of certain hospital visits as a
  condition of release on parole or to mandatory supervision for
  certain releasees and to the hospital's liability for damages
  resulting from those visits.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Pokuaa-Flowers Act.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 508, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 508.193 to read as follows:
         Sec. 508.193.  REQUIRED APPROVAL OF CERTAIN HOSPITAL VISITS.  
  (a)  A parole panel that requires a releasee serving a sentence for
  an offense listed in Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, or for which the judgment contains an affirmative
  finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, to submit to electronic monitoring as a condition of
  release on parole or to mandatory supervision shall, as an
  additional condition of release, prohibit the releasee from
  visiting a hospital for a purpose other than to receive emergency
  medical care unless the parole officer supervising the releasee
  approves the releasee's request to visit the hospital prior to the
  visit.
         (b)  A releasee's request to visit a hospital must specify
  the date and time of the intended visit and the reason for the
  visit.
         (c)  A parole officer who approves a visit under Subsection
  (a) shall promptly notify the chief law enforcement officer for the
  hospital, or a local law enforcement agency if the hospital does not
  employ any peace officers, of the date and time of the releasee's
  intended visit. 
         (d)  On a finding by the division that a parole officer
  intentionally failed to comply with the requirements of Subsection
  (c), the division shall begin disciplinary procedures against the
  officer. 
         (e)  Notwithstanding any other law, a hospital is not liable
  to a patient or another person for damages resulting from a visit by
  a releasee described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 3.  Section 508.193, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a person who is released on parole or to
  mandatory supervision on or after the effective date of this Act.  A
  person who is released on parole or to mandatory supervision before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at
  the time of release, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.