Missouri Senate

Perfected

This act replaces the "Department of Corrections and Human Resources" with "Department of Corrections" and the "board of probation and parole" with the "Division of Probation and Parole" or the "Parole Board".

This act also adds that the chairperson of the board shall employ employees as is necessary to carry out duties, serve as the appointing authority over such employees, and provide for appropriate training to members and staff.

This act repeals the provision that the chairperson of the board shall also be the Director of the Division of Probation and Parole. These provisions are substantially similar to SB 862 (2020).

Under this act, the Department of Corrections and all other state entities responsible for the care of persons detained or incarcerated in jails or prisons shall be required to ensure all such persons are assessed for substance abuse disorders; shall make available certain medication-assisted treatment services, consistent with a treatment plan developed by a physician; and shall not impose any arbitrary limitations on the type of medication or other treatment prescribed or dose or duration of the recommended services.

This act also modifies the list of covered medications to include formulations of buprenorphine other than tablets and formulations of naltrexone including extended-release injectable formulations. These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 521 (2021) and substantially similar to SB 814 (2020) and a provision in SB 507 (2019). (Section 191.1165)

This act provides that, effective January 1, 2023, any inmate who receives an on-site, non-emergency medical examination or treatment from the correctional center's medical personnel shall be assessed a charge of 50 cents per visit for the medical examination or treatment.

Inmates shall not be charged a co-pay fee for the following:

• Staff-approved follow-up treatment for chronic illnesses;

• Preventive health care;

• Emergency services;

• Prenatal care;

• Diagnosis or treatment of chronic infectious diseases;

• Mental health care; or

• Substance abuse treatment.

This act provides that inmates without funds shall not be charged, provided they are considered to be indigent and unable to pay the health care services fee. Additionally, this act provides that the Department of Corrections shall deposit all funds collected into General Revenue. These provisions are similar to SB 395 (2021). (Section 217.243)

This act provides that offenders who receive funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act shall use such funds to make restitution payments ordered by a court resulting from a conviction of a violation of any local, state, or federal law. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/SB 374 (2021). (Section 217.845)

Under current law, the chief administrative officer of a correctional center may operate a canteen or commissary for the use and benefit of the offenders with the approval of the Division Director. Each correctional center keeps revenues received from the canteen or commissary to purchase the goods sold and other operating expenses.

Under this act, the Director of the Department of Corrections must approve the creation and operation of any canteen or commissary. This act also creates the "Inmate Canteen Fund" in the state treasury which shall consist of funds received from the inmate canteens. Any proceeds generated from this fund shall be expended solely for the purpose of improving inmate recreational, religious, educational, and reentry services.

This act repeals the current "Inmate Canteen Fund", which receives the remaining funds from sales of the canteen or commissary. These provisions are identical to SB 128 (2021), SB 864 (2020), and SB 434 (2019) and similar to HCS/HB 303 (2019). (Section 217.195)

This act also provides that Director of Corrections and any sheriff or jailer who holds a person in custody shall ensure that an appropriate quantity of feminine hygiene products are available at no cost to female offenders while confined in any correctional center or jail. The General Assembly may appropriate funds to assist with the funding of this requirement. This provision contains an emergency clause. This provision identical to HB 318 (2021). (Section 217.199 & 221.065)

Under current law, the Department of Corrections shall issue a reimbursement to a county for the actual cost of incarceration of a prisoner not to exceed certain amounts as provided in the act. However, the amount shall not be less than the amount appropriated in the previous fiscal year.

This act repeals the provision that the amount reimbursed to counties shall not be less than the amount appropriated in the previous fiscal year. (Section 221.105)

MARY GRACE BRUNTRAGER