BILL NUMBER: AB 296	CHAPTERED  10/05/05

	CHAPTER  524
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 5, 2005
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 5, 2005
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2005
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 25, 2005
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 15, 2005
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 26, 2005

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Negrete McLeod

                        FEBRUARY 9, 2005

   An act to add Section 5008.2 to the Penal Code, relating to
hepatitis C.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 296, Negrete McLeod  Hepatitis C.
   The existing Hepatitis C Education, Screening, and Treatment Act
requires the Director of Corrections to perform various functions and
duties with respect to testing and treatment of individuals in the
correctional system for hepatitis C. Existing law requires the
director to provide the budget subcommittees of the Legislature, on
or before March 1, 2002, with an annual statistical report on the
prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in correctional facilities and
trends in the incidence and prevalence of the hepatitis C virus in
the correctional system. Existing law implements these provisions
only to the extent funds for this purpose have been appropriated in
the annual Budget Act.
   This bill would require the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to make hepatitis C screening available without
copayment to an inmate, make testing confidential, and make available
hepatitis C information for all inmates upon intake examination or
while providing general information.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 5008.2 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   5008.2.  (a) During the intake medical examination or intake
health screening, or while providing general information during
intake, the department shall provide all inmates with information on
hepatitis C, including, but not limited to, methods of hepatitis C
transmission and prevention, and information on opportunities for
screening and treatment while incarcerated. This subdivision shall be
implemented only to the extent that brochures, other printed
information, or other media is provided at no charge to the
department by public health agencies or any other organization
promoting hepatitis C education.
   (b) The department shall also provide hepatitis C screening to all
inmates who request it, and offer it to inmates that have a history
of intravenous drug use or other risk factors for hepatitis C. This
testing shall be confidential. The medical copayment authorized in
Section 5007.5 shall not be charged for hepatitis C testing,
treatment, or any followup testing.