Federal Correctional Facilities COVID–19 Response Act

Bill: 116-hr-8470
Sponsor: Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Introduced: 2020-10-01 in the House
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Detention of persons
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employee leave
Government information and archives
Health care coverage and access
Health information and medical records
Health promotion and preventive care
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immunology and vaccination
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Law enforcement officers
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Right of privacy
Worker safety and health

Summary:
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: 

Federal Correctional Facilities COVID-19 Response Act

 
This bill requires federal correctional facilities to provide COVID-19 tests at no cost to inmates and employees and otherwise addresses the management of COVID-19 in these facilities.
 
Correctional facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and private facilities that house inmates under contract with federal entities must provide initial tests within 15 days of the enactment of this bill and also establish a weekly testing program that will remain in effect through the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inmates may opt out of this testing. In addition, facilities must provide appropriate follow-up services for those who test positive for, or display symptoms of, COVID-19, including necessary medical care for inmates and access to paid leave for employees.
 
Furthermore, each facility must report specified COVID-19 data to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the public health authority of the state in which the facility is located. Specifically, facilities must report COVID-19 outbreaks to the CDC, and the CDC must deploy staff to facilities with outbreaks to prevent further spread of the disease.
 
The bill also applies certain federal privacy standards for health records to, and restricts the use of, any data collected as a result of the testing and reporting activities.
 
Additionally, the BOP, in consultation with the CDC and other experts, must update certain guidelines on managing COVID-19, and DOJ must also report to Congress on COVID-19 prevention, mitigation, and control activities at federal correctional facilities.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2020-10-01
text: Introduced in House