Bill > SF5130

This bill establishes standards of basic medical care for confined or incarcerated persons in Minnesota. It defines "basic medical care" to include emergency care, ongoing treatment for pre-existing conditions, treatment for new conditions, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and the provision of necessary prescriptions and medical devices. The bill requires that only licensed medical personnel make decisions about the medical care of incarcerated individuals, and failure to provide basic medical care constitutes "deliberate indifference" that can be subject to legal action. The bill also requires correctional facilities and jails to provide a standardized release form for medical information and to equip staff with portable recording systems to document interactions with incarcerated individuals. Finally, the bill appropriates $370,000 to provide training on the bill's provisions to correctional facility and jail staff, as well as to incarcerated individuals.