SB 769 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Corrections: state facilities; medical information regarding a prisoner provided to individuals as authorized by a prisoner; allow. Amends 1953 PA 232 (MCL 791.201 - 791.285) by adding sec. 64a.

This bill requires Michigan's Department of Corrections to provide every prisoner with a medical information release form, an emergency contact form, and an informational brochure upon intake. Prisoners must designate specific individuals to receive their medical information (authorized recipients) and to be contacted during a critical medical emergency (emergency contacts), with the department instructing them to keep contact details updated. In a critical medical emergency, the department must notify the designated emergency contact and may arrange for approved visitors (like family or clergy) to visit the prisoner in the hospital. The department must develop the required forms and brochure within 90 days of the bill's effective date and make them available to all prisoners.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Jun 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

Senate Introduced Bill → Substitute (S-1) · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Corrections Code to require prisons to provide medical information release and emergency contact forms to all prisoners, including those already in custody when the law takes effect. It adds protections for prisoners under guardianship, clarifies the definition of a 'critical medical emergency' to include inpatient care, and mandates that emergency contacts be notified within two hours of such emergencies. The bill also requires the department to create accessible forms and brochures in plain language.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of applicability to include prisoners already in custody at the time the amendment becomes effective, ensuring they receive the new forms immediately.

REQUIREMENT

Requires the department to provide medical information release and emergency contact forms to prisoners already in custody on the effective date of the new section.

Requires the department to provide denial of visit requests in writing to both the prisoner and the emergency contact within 5 hours of the decision.

Mandates that all forms and brochures be fully accessible, written in plain language, and available in alternative formats like Braille upon request.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly grants prisoners under a guardianship order the right to complete these forms, unless a court order states otherwise.

DEFINITION

Updates the definition of 'critical medical emergency' to specifically include situations requiring inpatient health care at a hospital.

TIMELINE

Changes the emergency notification timeline to require notice to be provided to emergency contacts within 2 hours of a critical medical emergency.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 10, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1)

upper

Jun 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

REPORTED FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1) 6/4/2026

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR MARY CAVANAGH

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors