SF4404 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Medications for persons detained in jails provision
Related bill: HF4282
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To ensure that people held in jails or correctional facilities continue to receive the same medications they were prescribed before they were confined, provided those prescriptions are current and verified by the facility through an approved procedure.
Main Provisions
- Correctional facilities must administer to confined or incarcerated individuals the same medications that were prescribed prior to confinement, if the prescriptions are current and valid and verified using a facility-approved procedure by the facility’s licensed health care professional.
- Exceptions:
- The requirement does not apply if a Jarvis order (under section 253B.092 subdivision 8) directs otherwise.
- Medication changes may occur if a licensed health care professional determines:
- The prescribed medication is not medically appropriate for the person based on their medical condition or status; or
- There is a medication that is at least as effective as the current one that is available to treat the condition, and the health care professional who prescribed the current medication approves the change.
- The person may stop taking the medication by giving written notice to the licensed health care professional responsible for inmate health care (or their designee), and this decision must be documented in the person’s medical records.
- Definitions:
- A licensed health care professional includes a physician, a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse (as defined in statute).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 241.021 subdivision 4f to require correctional facilities to provide inmates with the same medications they were prescribed before confinement, subject to verification and approved procedures.
- Establishes explicit scenarios for medically appropriate substitutions or discontinuations, including professional approval and patient-initiated changes documented in medical records.
- Broadens who may be involved in administering and approving medications (physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice registered nurses) and clarifies the process for continuing, changing, or stopping medications within correctional settings.
- Incorporates an exception mechanism tied to Jarvis orders, recognizing court-related directives may override routine medication continuity.
Terminology and Concepts (Key terms from the bill)
- correctional facilities, jail, confined, incarcerated persons
- medications, prescribed medications, prior to confinement, current and valid prescription
- verification procedure, facility-approved procedure
- licensed health care professional (physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse)
- medical condition, status
- not medically appropriate, at least as effective as current medication
- change in medications, discontinue medication
- written notice, informed decision, medical records
- Jarvis order, section 253B.092 subdivision 8
Relevant Terms - correctional facilities - medications - prescribed prior to confinement - current and valid - licensed health care professional - physician - physician assistant - advanced practice registered nurse - medical condition - not medically appropriate - at least as effective - change in medications - written notice - medical records - Jarvis order - section 253B.092 subdivision 8
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 12, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"New subdivision 4f: Provision of medications in correctional facilities.",
"Requires correctional facilities to administer the same medications prescribed prior to confinement if prescriptions are current and verified as valid by the facility's licensed health care professional.",
"Allows changes to medications if a licensed health care professional deems the current medication not medically appropriate or if an alternative at least as effective is available with the prescribing professional's approval.",
"Allows a person to discontinue medication by providing written notice, with documentation in medical records.",
"Defines 'licensed health care professional' to include physicians licensed under chapter 147, physician assistants licensed under chapter 147A, or advanced practice registered nurses as defined in section 148.171, subdivision 3."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 241.021, subdivision 4f, to establish the provision of medications in correctional facilities for confined or incarcerated persons consistent with prescriptions prior to confinement, with verification by the facility's licensed health care professional, and with conditions for medication changes and discontinuation. Includes definitions of eligible licensed health care professionals and references to related statutory provisions.",
"modified": [
"Revises the regulation of medication administration in correctional facilities as a condition for confinement."
]
},
"citation": "241.021",
"subdivision": "4f"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"An exception to the 241.021, subdivision 4f provisions for individuals under a Jarvis order per 253B.092, subdivision 8."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References Jarvis order under section 253B.092, subdivision 8 as an exception to the new subdivision 4f provisions when the order dictates otherwise.",
"modified": [
"Interplay between Jarvis orders and medication administration in correctional facilities."
]
},
"citation": "253B.092",
"subdivision": "8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of physicians licensed under chapter 147 among 'licensed health care professionals' in Minnesota Statutes 241.021, subdivision 4f."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference: physicians licensed under Minnesota Statutes chapter 147 are included in the definition of 'licensed health care professional' for the purposes of subdivision 4f.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "147",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of physician assistants licensed under chapter 147A among 'licensed health care professionals' in Minnesota Statutes 241.021, subdivision 4f."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference: physician assistants licensed under Minnesota Statutes chapter 147A are included in the definition of 'licensed health care professional' for subdivision 4f.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "147A",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Inclusion of APN definition from 148.171, subdivision 3 in the 'licensed health care professional' definition for Minnesota Statutes 241.021, subdivision 4f."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference: defines advanced practice registered nurse as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 148.171, subdivision 3, for use in subdivision 4f.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "148.171",
"subdivision": "3"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee