Bill Text: VA SB1146 | 2017 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Jail inmates; costs of medical treatment.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-27 - Passed by indefinitely in Rehabilitation and Social Services (15-Y 0-N) [SB1146 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-SB1146-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §53.1-126 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§53.1-126. Responsibility of sheriffs and jail superintendents for food, clothing, and medicine.
The sheriff or jail superintendent shall purchase at prices as
low as reasonably possible all foodstuffs and other provisions used in the
feeding of jail prisoners and such clothing and medicine as may be necessary. Nothing herein shall be construed to require a Adequate medical
treatment shall not be withheld due to an inmate's inability to pay. However, no sheriff, or jail superintendent or a locality shall
be required to pay for the medical treatment of an inmate
for any injury, illness, or condition that existed prior to the inmate's
commitment to a local or regional facility, except
that medical treatment shall not be withheld for any communicable diseases,
serious medical needs, or life threatening conditions.
Invoices or itemized statements of account from each vendor of such foodstuffs,
provisions, clothing, and
medicines shall be obtained by the sheriff or jail superintendent and presented
for payment to the governing body of the city or county or, in the case of
regional jails, the regional jail authority or, if none, that body responsible
for the fiscal management of the regional jails, which shall be responsible for
the payment thereof. He shall certify on each statement or invoice that the
merchandise has been received and that the vendor has complied with the terms
of the purchase. Such certification shall be in the following words: "I
hereby certify that the merchandise or service has been received and that the
terms of the purchase have been complied with on the part of the vendor. The
merchandise or service has been or will be used solely for the feeding and care
of prisoners confined in jail." If any county or city has a purchasing
agent, the local governing body may require all such purchases to be made by or
through the purchasing agent.
