BILL NUMBER: AB 1487	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hill

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2009

   An act to amend Section 4011.2 of the Penal Code, relating to
inmate medical costs.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1487, as introduced, Hill. Inmate medical expenses.
   Under existing law, a sheriff, chief or director of corrections,
or a chief of police is authorized to charge a fee in the amount of
$3 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in a
county or city jail who has money in his or her personal account.
Existing law authorizes the medical provider to waive the fee,
requires the medical provider to waive the fee in any
life-threatening or emergency situation, as defined, exempts followup
medical visits from the fee, and requires all moneys received
pursuant to this provision to be transferred to the county or city
general fund.
   Existing law requires that the above fee be charged to the inmate'
s account at his or her respective facility and prohibits a denial of
medical care to an inmate because of a lack of funds in that
account.
   This bill would increase the above fee to $6.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 4011.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read:
   4011.2.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 4011.1, a sheriff, chief or
director of corrections, or chief of police is authorized to charge a
fee in the amount of  three dollars ($3)   six
dollars ($6)  for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an
inmate confined in a county or city jail.
   (b) The fee shall be charged to the inmate's personal account at
the facility. If the inmate has no money in his or her personal
account, there shall be no charge for the medical visit.
   (c) An inmate shall not be denied medical care because of a lack
of funds in his or her personal account at the facility.
   (d) The medical provider may waive the fee for any
inmate-initiated treatment and shall waive the fee in any
life-threatening or emergency situation, defined as those health
services required for alleviation of severe pain or for immediate
diagnosis and treatment of unforeseen medical conditions that if not
immediately diagnosed and treated could lead to disability or death.
   (e) Followup medical visits at the direction of the medical staff
shall not be charged to the inmate.
   (f) All moneys received by a sheriff, chief or director of
corrections, or chief of police pursuant to this section shall be
transferred to the county or city general fund.