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HF682 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Standards of basic medical care established for confined or incarcerated persons, information release forms provided, portable recording system required for correctional facility and jail staff and correctional officers, and money appropriated.

AI Generated Summary

This bill aims to improve medical care standards for individuals who are incarcerated or confined in correctional facilities and jails in Minnesota. Here are the key points of the legislation:

  1. Basic Medical Care Definition: It expands the definition of basic medical care to include emergency care, ongoing treatment for pre-existing conditions, treatment for new conditions including mental health and substance disorders, provision of necessary prescriptions and medical devices, and basic dental care.

  2. Licensed Medical Personnel: The bill specifies that only licensed medical professionals can make decisions about the medical care of incarcerated individuals. It also outlines consequences for facilities that fail to provide adequate care, including potential fines and other penalties.

  3. Information Release Forms: Incarcerated individuals must be provided with a standardized form upon intake to authorize the release of their health information. This aims to improve communication about their health status and any medical conditions.

  4. Portable Recording Systems: Correctional officers and staff must use portable recording devices to record all interactions with incarcerated individuals. The bill includes provisions for funding these devices and outlines policies for their use, including how recordings are stored, accessed, and reviewed.

  5. Funding: It appropriates funds to a nonprofit community organization to provide training on the new act and support services for medical care advocacy for incarcerated individuals.

Overall, the bill strives to ensure higher standards of medical care for incarcerated individuals and better accountability and transparency from the facilities that confine them.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 12, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toPublic Safety Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Establishes guidelines for who can make medical decisions and introduces penalties for non-compliance."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill amends existing standards and requirements for correctional facilities regarding the provision of medical care and the release of information.",
      "modified": [
        "Requires standardized release forms for sharing medical and mental health information."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "241.021"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references section 626.8473 in relation to adopting policies for portable recording systems used by correctional staff.",
      "modified": [
        "Ensures that policies for portable recording systems in correctional facilities are in compliance with existing requirements for such systems."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "626.8473"
  }
]

Sponsors