Sponsored by: Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas)
Summary: This bill would have allowed prisons and other criminal justice facilities that house inmates and state jail defendants to distribute condoms and other sexual barrier protection devices to curb the spread of HIV amongst the inmate population. Prisons would have had the option to test inmates for HIV before an inmate is released from the detention center, or annually for inmates who did not have an existing positive test result. Also, HB 1868 would have allowed outside community agencies to enter prisons and distribute sexual barriers and information to help prevent HIV infections. Possession of a sexual barrier could not be used as evidence of criminal activity.
This bill would have allowed prisons and other criminal justice facilities that house inmates and state jail defendants to distribute condoms and other sexual barrier protection devices to curb the spread of HIV amongst the inmate population. Prisons would have had the option to test inmates for HIV before an inmate is released from the detention center, or annually for inmates who did not have an existing positive test result.
Also, HB 1868 would have allowed outside community agencies to enter prisons and distribute sexual barriers and information to help prevent HIV infections.
Possession of a sexual barrier could not be used as evidence of criminal activity.
PPNT Position: Support - The number of people with HIV in prison is 3 times higher than those in the general population. Distributing condoms would have been a low-cost, practical public health measure that would have allowed inmates who do engage in sexual activity while incarcerated to prevent HIV and also encourage inmates to undergo regular HIV testing. Other U.S. prisons and jails in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles already distributing condoms in their jails, and the distribution of condoms to inmates has been successful in reducing the incidence of new HIV infections within the inmate populations. Condom distribution programs in prisons have been endorsed by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the American Public Health Association.
Support - The number of people with HIV in prison is 3 times higher than those in the general population. Distributing condoms would have been a low-cost, practical public health measure that would have allowed inmates who do engage in sexual activity while incarcerated to prevent HIV and also encourage inmates to undergo regular HIV testing. Other U.S. prisons and jails in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles already distributing condoms in their jails, and the distribution of condoms to inmates has been successful in reducing the incidence of new HIV infections within the inmate populations.
Condom distribution programs in prisons have been endorsed by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the American Public Health Association.
Latest Action: 5/12/2009 - HB 1868 was left pending in House Corrections committee.
5/12/2009 - HB 1868 was left pending in House Corrections committee.
Recorded Votes: None.
None.
