Prisoners: medical care.

Under existing law, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is required to administer a constitutional level of medical care to inmates. Existing case law defines the minimum constitutional standard of medical care as commensurate with modern medical science and of a quality acceptable within prudent professional standards. This bill provides that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation provide inmates with medical care that meets the community standard of care, as specified. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to declare a fiscal emergency and to call the Legislature into special session for that purpose. The Governor issued a proclamation declaring a fiscal emergency, and calling a special session for this purpose, on July 1, 2009. This bill would state that it addresses the fiscal emergency declared by the Governor by proclamation issued on July 1, 2009, pursuant to the California Constitution.