ACTION ALERT | HB1633 Prisoners and Self-Inflicted Injuries
HB1633: "Counties and county officers; stating who is primarily responsible for medical care costs for self-inflicted injuries and preexisting conditions..."
❗ Ask your state senator to vote NO on HB1633.
The Alliance of Mental Health Providers of Oklahoma opposes HB1633, which would make county jails no longer responsible for “payment of the cost of medical care provided to the person for any self-inflicted injury sustained while in the custody of the county jail…”
The House author is Rep. David Hardin (R-District 86). The Senate author is Senator Michael Bergstrom (R-District 1).
🔪 5 Reasons HB1633 is Bad
SETS UP the State for a costly lawsuit. Under the Constitution, when the county has custody of a person, the county is responsible for the medical care of that person. Failure to provide necessary medical care is a violation of the 8th Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
STIGMATIZES mental illness.
STIMULATES arguments about what is and isn’t self-harm. (Very messy.)
SHIFTS cost to ratepayers and increases the cost of insurance.
HARMS Oklahoma hospitals.
🔬 Little is known about the data behind HB 1633.
Click here to read more talking points about HB1633.
☎️ Call your state senator before 2 p.m. today.
HB1633 is on the Oklahoma Senate Public Safety Committee’s agenda today, Monday, April 5, and may be heard as early as 2 p.m. Click here to use the Oklahoma’s Senate’s FIND YOUR SENATOR tool.
Members of the Public Safety Committee include:
Senator Lonnie Paxton, Chair (District 23)
Senator Darrell Weaver, Vice-Chair (District 24)
Senator Mark Allen (District 4)
Senator Michael Bergstrom (District 1)
Senator Michael Brooks (District 44)
Senator Bill Coleman (District 10)
Senator Nathan Dham (District 33)
Senator Darcy Jech (District 26)
Senator Kevin Matthews (District 11)
Senator Dave Rader (District 39)
Senator Cody Rogers (District 37)
Once Again
Please ask your state senator to vote NO on HB1633 before 2 p.m. today, Monday, April 5. The Alliance of Mental Health Providers of Oklahoma opposes HB1633, which would make county jails no longer responsible for “payment of the cost of medical care provided to the person for any self-inflicted injury sustained while in the custody of the county jail…”
Thank you!