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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the medical transportation and care for certain inmates |
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in 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 Sections 501.0515 and 501.071 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.0515. PROCEDURES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF FEMALE |
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INMATES FOR MEDICAL CARE. The department shall establish |
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procedures to be used during the regularly scheduled transportation |
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of female inmates for nonemergency medical care to The University |
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of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston or another medical facility |
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that provides medical services for inmates. The procedures must: |
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(1) prohibit the use of restraints around the ankles, |
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legs, wrists, or waist of a female inmate in a manner that connects |
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the inmate to another inmate; |
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(2) prohibit a correctional officer from conducting an |
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invasive body cavity search of a female inmate unless the officer |
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has a reasonable belief that the inmate is concealing contraband; |
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(3) require a correctional officer who conducts a |
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search described by Subdivision (2) to submit a written report to |
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the warden in the manner prescribed by Section 501.0665(b); |
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(4) allow female inmates to bring toilet paper and |
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feminine hygiene products as defined by Section 501.0675; |
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(5) ensure that female inmates receive sufficient |
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food; |
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(6) ensure that facilities used to house female |
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inmates overnight while being transported have an adequate number |
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of beds for the inmates being transported; and |
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(7) ensure that buses used to transport female inmates |
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are equipped with bathrooms that have ergonomically designed |
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toilets and afford privacy to the user. |
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Sec. 501.071. ACCESS TO TELEMEDICINE AND TELEHEALTH |
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SERVICES AND ON-SITE MEDICAL CARE. The department, in conjunction |
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with The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the |
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, shall establish |
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procedures to increase opportunities and expand access to |
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telemedicine medical services and telehealth services, as those |
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terms are defined by Section 111.001, Occupations Code, and on-site |
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medical care for inmates, including on-site mobile care units that |
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provide diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, and other |
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appropriate mobile health services. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall establish the procedures |
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required by Sections 501.0515 and 501.071, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas |
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Department of Criminal Justice shall submit a report to the |
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legislature on the department's progress in increasing |
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opportunities and expanding access to telemedicine medical |
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services and telehealth services and on-site medical care for |
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inmates under Section 501.071, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, including a summary of the procedures established under that |
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section and the number of inmates who received services or care |
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under those procedures. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |