House of Representatives

HB 2217

prisoner medical care; medical history

Sponsors: Representatives Huffman, Carruthers, Senator Guenther, et al.

DPA	Committee on Public Institutions & Rural Affairs
x	Committee on Appropriations
	Caucus and COW
	As Passed the House

HB 2217 allows the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) to select the method by which to transfer inmates during an emergency. The bill also adds various Department supervisors to the list of employees who may access prisoner medical information.

History

Current law stipulates that when a paramedic arrives on the scene of an emergency, the paramedic is in charge of making decisions regarding transportation of the victim. HB 2217 would transfer that authority to ADC in cases involving inmates.

Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) §41-1606 limits access to prisoner medical records to various supervisory employees within the Department (the director, assistant directors, wardens and deputy wardens). HB 2217 would expand that list to other Department supervisors.

Provisions

· Stipulates that ADC may select which method of transportation will be used in transporting inmates to a hospital or other emergency receiving facility when the inmate is involved in an emergency situation.

· States that the Department shall be liable for any injury or death resulting from the method selected.

· Adds deputy directors, on-site duty officers and parole supervisors to the list of employees that may access prisoners’ medical records.

HB 2217 was amended in the Public Institutions and Rural Affairs Committee as follows:

· Clarifies that the deputy director for inmate health services or his designee shall be the one who determines the mode of transport.

· Stipulates that if the deputy director or his designee is not available, then the emergency personnel shall determine the mode of transport and states that the Department shall not be liable in that case.

· States that if the condition of a prisoner changes during transport, the closest emergency facility shall utilized.

· Provides that if the Department transports inmates by ground ambulance, it must use an appropriately certificated ambulance service.

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· 45th Legislature

· First Regular Session 2 February 14, 2001

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