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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the required approval of certain hospital visits as a |
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condition of release on parole or to mandatory supervision for |
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certain releasees and to the hospital's liability for damages |
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resulting from those visits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Pokuaa-Flowers Act. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 508, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 508.193 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 508.193. REQUIRED APPROVAL OF CERTAIN HOSPITAL VISITS. |
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(a) A parole panel that requires a releasee serving a sentence for |
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an offense listed in Article 42A.054(a), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, or for which the judgment contains an affirmative |
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finding under Article 42A.054(c) or (d), Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, to submit to electronic monitoring as a condition of |
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release on parole or to mandatory supervision shall, as an |
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additional condition of release, prohibit the releasee from |
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visiting a general hospital, as defined by Section 241.003, Health |
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and Safety Code, for a purpose other than to receive medical |
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treatment, as defined by Section 313.002, Health and Safety Code, |
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including emergency medical care, unless the parole officer |
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supervising the releasee approves the releasee's request to visit |
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the hospital prior to the visit. |
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(b) A releasee's request to visit a general hospital must |
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specify the date and time of the intended visit and the reason for |
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the visit. |
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(c) A parole officer who approves a visit under Subsection |
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(a) shall promptly notify the chief law enforcement officer for the |
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general hospital, or a local law enforcement agency if the general |
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hospital does not employ any peace officers, of the date and time of |
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the releasee's intended visit. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other law, a general hospital is not |
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liable to a patient or another person for damages resulting from a |
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visit by a releasee described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 3. Section 508.193, Government Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a person who is released on parole or to |
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mandatory supervision on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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person who is released on parole or to mandatory supervision before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at |
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the time of release, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |