Prisons: discretionary services.

Under existing law, a sheriff, chief or director of corrections, or a chief of police is authorized to charge a fee in the amount of $3 for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate confined in a county or city jail who has money in his or her personal account, as specified, and requires all moneys received pursuant to this provision to be transferred to the county or city general fund. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to charge a $5 fee for each inmate-initiated medical visit of an inmate, as specified, and provides that upon appropriation by the Legislature, the funds so received be expended to reimburse the department for direct provision of inmate health care services. This bill would, in the case of county jails, authorize a sheriff, chief or director of corrections, or chief of police or, in the case of state prisons, authorize the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to institute a schedule of fees and assess fees for discretionary services or a per diem fee for room and board, or both, and would define "discretionary services" to not include certain medical services or services otherwise required by the constitution, statute, or applicable case law. The bill would require a procedure for the appeal of those fees assessed. The bill would provide a process for the accrual and forgiveness of those fees, as specified. The bill would require that all moneys received pursuant to this bill be expended to reimburse the facilities for the provision of those services, upon approval by the governing board in the case of local facilities or upon appropriation by the Legislature in the case of state facilities.