Courtesy of ABC-13 KTRK Houston
Convicts coming into Texas prisons can look forward to likely mandatory testing for HIV and AIDS. Under current regulations, state inmates can be tested at any time but may decline to be tested. Statistics show about 80 percent agree to the tests, with less than 2 percent of them identified as HIV-positive.
Under legislation approved two years ago, inmates are required for testing before they leave prison.
But according to an opinion from state Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice can adopt a rule that "compels mandatory HIV testing for incoming offenders."
"We look forward to reviewing Thursday's opinion to evaluate what changes, if any, should be made to our intake testing procedures to ensure that all TDCJ inmates are being screened for HIV and AIDS," Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said Friday.
As of Dec. 31, the prison system had 154,937 inmates, with 2,693 identified as HIV-positive. More than 35 percent of HIV-positive inmates were from Harris County. Eighteen percent were from Dallas.
The attorney general's opinion was requested by Sen. Rodney Ellis. The Houston Democrat, along with state Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, sponsored the legislation two years ago that requires inmates be tested for HIV before leaving prison.
Ellis had said if Abbott ruled current law didn't allow for mandatory entry tests, he'd sponsor a bill that would include such a requirement.
Under legislation approved two years ago, inmates are required for testing before they leave prison.
But according to an opinion from state Attorney General Greg Abbott, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice can adopt a rule that "compels mandatory HIV testing for incoming offenders."
"We look forward to reviewing Thursday's opinion to evaluate what changes, if any, should be made to our intake testing procedures to ensure that all TDCJ inmates are being screened for HIV and AIDS," Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokeswoman Michelle Lyons said Friday.
As of Dec. 31, the prison system had 154,937 inmates, with 2,693 identified as HIV-positive. More than 35 percent of HIV-positive inmates were from Harris County. Eighteen percent were from Dallas.
The attorney general's opinion was requested by Sen. Rodney Ellis. The Houston Democrat, along with state Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, sponsored the legislation two years ago that requires inmates be tested for HIV before leaving prison.
Ellis had said if Abbott ruled current law didn't allow for mandatory entry tests, he'd sponsor a bill that would include such a requirement.
1 comments:
Hello. And Bye.
Post a Comment