Bill

HB 4559

86(R) - 2019
House County Affairs
Senate Criminal Justice
House County Affairs
Senate Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice

Vote Recommendation

Yes
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Positive
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Art Fierro

Sponsor(s)

José Rodríguez

Bill Caption

Relating to access to a county jail prisoner ’s health benefits coverage information for mental health service providers.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.


Bill Analysis

HB 4559 would require the adoption of procedures by which a local mental health authority or other mental health services provider providing services to a prisoner in a county jail under a contract with the county may collect certain private insurance information from a prisoner who receives those services. The purpose of this would be to allow the cost of those insurance services to be billed to the private insurance company rather than leaving the taxpayers stuck with the cost of the service. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

To the extent that HB 4559 may shift the cost of these services from taxpayers to the private insurance of a prisoner who receives mental health services, this would uplift the principle of limited government. For this reason we support HB 4559..