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SB 1394 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROVISION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO INMATES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

SB 1394 requires the state's Department of Public Health and Department of Correction to annually evaluate healthcare services for inmates in correctional facilities, comparing practices against national standards. It mandates two key reports by January 1, 2026: one from the Correction Ombuds detailing staffing needs and communication procedures for inmates' families, and another from the Commissioner of Correction on policies for medical records sharing and post-release care. The bill also establishes a task force to study healthcare staffing challenges in prisons, with members appointed from legislative leaders, corrections staff unions, and relevant state agencies. This legislation focuses on oversight and data collection to assess current practices, rather than directly changing healthcare delivery or funding.
Issues: ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires annual healthcare evaluations against standards and mandates reports on medical records/post-release care, advancing correctional healthcare reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates annual healthcare evaluations and reports to improve inmate care standards, ensuring compliance with national benchmarks and enhancing medical records/post-release protocols.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Raised Bill → PH Joint Favorable Substitute · 6 edits
MODERATE
The bill was changed from a 'Raised Bill' to a 'Substitute Bill' with significant additions to expand the scope of health care evaluations in correctional facilities. The changes require the Department of Public Health to now also evaluate mental health care services alongside general health care services. Additionally, the task force established to study personnel recruitment now includes mental health care personnel, and Commissioner reports must cover both health and mental health care policies.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded from general health care services to include mental health care services in correctional institutions, affecting evaluation requirements, task force composition, and reporting obligations.
REQUIREMENT

Section 1 now requires evaluation of both health care and mental health care services provided to inmates, rather than just general health care services.

Section 1 was expanded to include best practices identified by national commissions or associations specifically for correctional health care and mental health care.

Section 2 now requires the Correction Ombuds report to cover both health care and mental health care services provided to inmates.

Section 3 expanded the task force's purpose to study recruitment and retention barriers for both health care and mental health care personnel.

Section 3 was modified to include Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner as a task force member, in addition to Correction, Public Health, and Administrative Services Commissioners.

Section 4 now requires the Commissioner of Correction to report on policies regarding both health care and mental health care services, including communication with mental health care providers.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Mar 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Public Health
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.