Inmates: sterilization.

Existing law establishes a state correctional system and provides for the establishment of county jails. Existing law regulates certain aspects of medical care for inmates. This bill would prohibit sterilization for the purpose of birth control of an individual under the control of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or a county correctional facility, as specified. The bill would also otherwise prohibit any means of sterilization of an inmate, except when required for the immediate preservation of life in an emergency medical situation or when medically necessary, as determined by contemporary standards of evidence-based medicine, to treat a diagnosed condition and certain requirements are satisfied, including that patient consent is obtained. If a sterilization procedure is performed pursuant to these exceptions, the bill would require psychological consultation and medical followup, as specified. The bill would require the department, if a sterilization procedure is performed on one or more individuals under its control, to annually publish on its Internet Web site data related to the number of sterilizations performed, disaggregated by race, age, medical justification, and method of sterilization. The bill would require each county jail or other institution of confinement, if a sterilization procedure is performed on one or more individuals under its control, to annually submit to the Board of State and Community Corrections data related to the number of sterilizations performed, disaggregated by race, age, medical justification, and method of sterilization, and would require the board to annually publish that data on its Internet Web site. The bill would require the department and all county jails or other institutions of confinement to provide notification to all individuals under their custody, and to all employees who are involved in providing health care services, of their rights and responsibilities with regard to the sterilization of inmates. By imposing additional duties on local correctional facilities in connection with inmate medical care, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.