Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 53.1 a section numbered 53.1-133.06 as follows:
§53.1-133.06. Sovereign immunity; provision of medical services.
A [ health care provider physician
] , as defined in §8.01-581.1, who is employed by a locality or by a local
or regional correctional facility to provide medical services to prisoners
shall be liable to a prisoner for a claim of wrongful death or injury to the
person caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of such [ provider
physician ] while acting within the scope of such employment. [ This
section serves to waive any sovereign immunity to which such an employee would
otherwise be entitled. ]