HR 1943 RFSSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

September 26, 2007CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To provide for an effective HIV/AIDS program in Federal prisons.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `‘Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2007'’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE HIV/AIDS POLICY.

(a) In General- The Bureau of Prisons (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the `Bureau'‘Bureau’) shall develop a comprehensive policy to provide HIV testing, treatment, and prevention for inmates within the correctional setting and upon reentry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purpose- The purposes of this policy shall be as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) To stop the spread of HIV/AIDS among inmates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) To protect prison guards and other personnel from HIV/AIDS infection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) To provide comprehensive medical treatment to inmates who are living with HIV/AIDS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) To promote HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention among inmates.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) To encourage inmates to take personal responsibility for their health.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) To reduce the risk that inmates will transmit HIV/AIDS to other persons in the community following their release from prison.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Consultation- The Bureau shall consult with appropriate officials of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Centers for Disease Control regarding the development of this policy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Time Limit- The Bureau shall draft appropriate regulations to implement this policy not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICY.

The policy created under section 2 shall do the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) TESTING AND COUNSELING UPON INTAKE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall provide routine HIV testing to all inmates as a part of a comprehensive medical examination immediately following admission to a facility. (Medical personnel need not provide routine HIV testing to an inmate who is transferred to a facility from another facility if the inmate'’s medical records are transferred with the inmate and indicate that the inmate has been tested previously.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) To all inmates admitted to a facility prior to the effective date of this policy, medical personnel shall provide routine HIV testing within no more than 6 months. HIV testing for these inmates may be performed in conjunction with other health services provided to these inmates by medical personnel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) All HIV tests under this paragraph shall comply with paragraph (9).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PRE-TEST AND POST-TEST COUNSELING- Medical personnel shall provide confidential pre-test and post-test counseling to all inmates who are tested for HIV. Counseling may be included with other general health counseling provided to inmates by medical personnel.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) HIV/AIDS PREVENTION EDUCATION-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall improve HIV/AIDS awareness through frequent educational programs for all inmates. HIV/AIDS educational programs may be provided by community based organizations, local health departments, and inmate peer educators. These HIV/AIDS educational programs shall include information on modes of transmission, including transmission through tattooing, sexual contact, and intravenous drug use; prevention methods; treatment; and disease progression. HIV/AIDS educational programs shall be culturally sensitive, conducted in a variety of languages, and present scientifically accurate information in a clear and understandable manner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) HIV/AIDS educational materials shall be made available to all inmates at orientation, at health care clinics, at regular educational programs, and prior to release. Both written and audio-visual materials shall be made available to all inmates. These materials shall be culturally sensitive, written for low literacy levels, and available in a variety of languages.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) HIV TESTING UPON REQUEST-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall allow inmates to obtain HIV tests upon request once per year or whenever an inmate has a reason to believe the inmate may have been exposed to HIV. Medical personnel shall, both orally and in writing, inform inmates, during orientation and periodically throughout incarceration, of their right to obtain HIV tests.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Medical personnel shall encourage inmates to request HIV tests if the inmate is sexually active, has been raped, uses intravenous drugs, receives a tattoo, or if the inmate is concerned that the inmate may have been exposed to HIV/AIDS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) An inmate'’s request for an HIV test shall not be considered an indication that the inmate has put him/herself at risk of infection and/or committed a violation of prison rules.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) HIV TESTING OF PREGNANT WOMAN-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall provide routine HIV testing to all inmates who become pregnant.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) All HIV tests under this paragraph shall comply with paragraph (9).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall provide all inmates who test positive for HIV--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) timely, comprehensive medical treatment;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) confidential counseling on managing their medical condition and preventing its transmission to other persons; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) voluntary partner notification services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Medical care provided under this paragraph shall be consistent with current Department of Health and Human Services guidelines and standard medical practice. Medical personnel shall discuss treatment options, the importance of adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and the side effects of medications with inmates receiving treatment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Medical and pharmacy personnel shall ensure that the facility formulary contains all Food and Drug Administration-approved medications necessary to provide comprehensive treatment for inmates living with HIV/AIDS, and that the facility maintains adequate supplies of such medications to meet inmates'’ medical needs. Medical and pharmacy personnel shall also develop and implement automatic renewal systems for these medications to prevent interruptions in care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) Correctional staff and medical and pharmacy personnel shall develop and implement distribution procedures to ensure timely and confidential access to medications.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall develop and implement procedures to ensure the confidentiality of inmate tests, diagnoses, and treatment. Medical personnel and correctional staff shall receive regular training on the implementation of these procedures. Penalties for violations of inmate confidentiality by medical personnel or correctional staff shall be specified and strictly enforced.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) HIV testing, counseling, and treatment shall be provided in a confidential setting where other routine health services are provided and in a manner that allows the inmate to request and obtain these services as routine medical services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) TESTING, COUNSELING, AND REFERRAL PRIOR TO REENTRY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Medical personnel shall provide routine HIV testing to all inmates no more than 3 months prior to their release and reentry into the community. (Inmates who are already known to be infected need not be tested again.). This requirement may be waived if an inmate'’s release occurs without sufficient notice to the Bureau to allow medical personnel to perform a routine HIV test and notify the inmate of the results.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) All HIV tests under this paragraph shall comply with paragraph (9).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) To all inmates who test positive for HIV and all inmates who already are known to have HIV/AIDS, medical personnel shall provide--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) confidential prerelease counseling on managing their medical condition in the community, accessing appropriate treatment and services in the community, and preventing the transmission of their condition to family members and other persons in the community;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) referrals to appropriate health care providers and social service agencies in the community that meet the inmate'’s individual needs, including voluntary partner notification services and prevention counseling services for people living with HIV/AIDS; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) a 30-day supply of any medically necessary medications the inmate is currently receiving.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) OPT-OUT PROVISION- Inmates shall have the right to refuse routine HIV testing. Inmates shall be informed both orally and in writing of this right. Oral and written disclosure of this right may be included with other general health information and counseling provided to inmates by medical personnel. If an inmate refuses a routine test for HIV, medical personnel shall make a note of the inmate's refusal in the inmate'’s refusal in the inmate’s confidential medical records. However, the inmate'’s refusal shall not be considered a violation of prison rules or result in disciplinary action.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) EXPOSURE INCIDENT TESTING- The Bureau may perform HIV testing of an inmate under section 4014 of title 18, United States Code. HIV testing of an inmate who is involved in an exposure incident is not `routine HIV testing'‘routine HIV testing’ for the purposes of paragraph (9) and does not require the inmate'’s consent. Medical personnel shall document the reason for exposure incident testing in the inmate'’s confidential medical records.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) TIMELY NOTIFICATION OF TEST RESULTS- Medical personnel shall provide timely notification to inmates of the results of HIV tests.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW.

(a) Screening in General- Section 4014(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking `‘for a period of 6 months or more'’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by striking `‘, as appropriate,'’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by striking `‘if such individual is determined to be at risk for infection with such virus in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Bureau of Prisons relating to infectious disease management'’ and inserting `‘unless the individual declines. The Attorney General shall also cause such individual to be so tested before release unless the individual declines'’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inadmissibility of HIV Test Results in Civil and Criminal Proceedings- Section 4014(d) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting `‘or under the Stop AIDS in Prison Act of 2007'’ after `under this section'‘under this section’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Screening as Part of Routine Screening- Section 4014(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: `‘Such rules shall also provide that the initial test under this section be performed as part of the routine health screening conducted at intake.'’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Report on Hepatitis and Other Diseases- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Bureau shall provide a report to the Congress on Bureau policies and procedures to provide testing, treatment, and prevention education programs for Hepatitis and other diseases transmitted through sexual activity and intravenous drug use. The Bureau shall consult with appropriate officials of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Centers for Disease Control regarding the development of this report.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Annual Reports-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) GENERALLY- Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and then annually thereafter, the Bureau shall report to Congress on the incidence among inmates of diseases transmitted through sexual activity and intravenous drug use.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) MATTERS PERTAINING TO VARIOUS DISEASES- Reports under paragraph (1) shall discuss--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the incidence among inmates of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and other diseases transmitted through sexual activity and intravenous drug use; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) updates on Bureau testing, treatment, and prevention education programs for these diseases.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) MATTERS PERTAINING TO HIV/AIDS ONLY- Reports under paragraph (1) shall also include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the number of inmates who tested positive for HIV upon intake;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the number of inmates who tested positive prior to reentry;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the number of inmates who were not tested prior to reentry because they were released without sufficient notice;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the number of inmates who opted-out of taking the test;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) the number of inmates who were tested following exposure incidents; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) the number of inmates under treatment for HIV/AIDS.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) CONSULTATION- The Bureau shall consult with appropriate officials of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Centers for Disease Control regarding the development of reports under paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Passed the House of Representatives September 25, 2007.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Attest:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

LORRAINE C. MILLER,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Clerk.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink