88R25682 MZM-D
 
  By: Klick, Moody, Rose, Leach, Swanson H.B. No. 3739
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the medical transportation and care for certain inmates
  in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 501.0515 and 501.071 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.0515.  PROCEDURES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF FEMALE
  INMATES FOR MEDICAL CARE. The department shall establish
  procedures to be used during the regularly scheduled transportation
  of female inmates for nonemergency medical care to The University
  of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston or another medical facility
  that provides medical services for inmates.  The procedures must
  ensure that:
               (1)  any searches conducted are performed in an area
  and manner that conforms with the requirements of the Prison Rape
  Elimination Act of 2003 (34 U.S.C. Section 30301 et seq.) and any
  regulation adopted under that Act;
               (2)  buses used to transport female inmates are
  equipped with bathrooms and have an adequate supply of toilet paper
  and feminine hygiene products as defined by Section 501.0675 for
  the inmates being transported;
               (3)  female inmates receive sufficient food and
  nutrition in accordance with medical or nutritional standards as
  determined by the department; and
               (4)  facilities used to house female inmates overnight
  while being transported have an adequate number of beds for the
  inmates being transported.
         Sec. 501.071.  ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH
  SERVICES AND ON-SITE MEDICAL CARE. The department, in conjunction
  with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the
  Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, shall establish
  procedures to increase opportunities and expand access to
  telemedicine medical services and telehealth services, as those
  terms are defined by Section 111.001, Occupations Code, and on-site
  medical care for inmates, including on-site mobile care units that
  provide diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and other
  appropriate mobile health services.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall establish the procedures
  required by Sections 501.0515 and 501.071, Government Code, as
  added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas
  Department of Criminal Justice shall submit a report to the
  legislature on the department's progress in increasing
  opportunities and expanding access to telemedicine medical
  services and telehealth services and on-site medical care for
  inmates under Section 501.071, Government Code, as added by this
  Act, including a summary of the procedures established under that
  section and the number of inmates who received services or care
  under those procedures.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.