HF4282 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Persons detained in jails provided medications.
Related bill: SF4404
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill aims to ensure that medications for people detained in jails or other correctional facilities are continued or appropriately managed. It focuses on providing the same medications that individuals were prescribed before confinement, as long as those prescriptions are current and valid.
Main Provisions
- Correctional facilities licensed by the state must administer the same medications to confined or incarcerated persons that were prescribed prior to confinement, provided the prescriptions are current and validated through the facility using an approved procedure.
- Exceptions to this requirement:
- If a Jarvis order (a type of court order) under section 253B.092 subdivision 8 says otherwise.
- If a licensed health care professional determines, after consulting with the prescriber, that the prescribed medication is not medically appropriate for the person’s medical condition or status.
- If a licensed health care professional determines that a different medication, which is at least as effective as the current one, is available and the prescriber approves the change.
- If the person provides written notice that they no longer want to take the medication, and this decision is documented in their medical records.
- Definitions:
- “Licensed health care professional” includes a physician (doctor), a physician assistant, or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).
- The bill requires health care professionals to follow an approved process to verify that prescribed medications are current and valid before administering them in the facility.
Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Minnesota Statutes to require correctional facilities to provide medications that match a person’s pre-confinement prescriptions, with verification of currency and validity.
- Establishes clear medical-necessity and equivalence criteria for changing medications inside facilities (contingent on professional judgment and prescriber approval).
- Introduces documentation requirements, including patient written notice of a desire to discontinue a medication and proper recording in medical records.
- clarifies who is considered a licensed health care professional for these purposes (physician, physician assistant, or APRN).
Definitions and Roles
- Specifies that “licensed health care professional” encompasses physicians, physician assistants, and APRNs.
- Emphasizes collaborative decision-making: changes in medication require input and approval from the prescribing health care professional.
Rationale and Impact
- Aims to ensure continuity of care and reduce interruptions in treatment for incarcerated individuals.
- Balances the goal of ongoing treatment with safety considerations and court orders that may affect medical decisions.
- Could affect how medications are managed when a person enters or remains in jail, including how changes are approved and documented.
Relevant Terms - correctional facilities - incarcerated persons / confined and incarcerated persons - medications - prescriptions - current and valid - verification procedure - licensed health care professional - physician - physician assistant - advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) - Jarvis order - section 253B.092 subdivision 8 - medically appropriate - as effective - change in medications - written notice - medical records - Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 241.021 subdivision 4f
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Past committee meetings
- Public Safety Finance and Policy on: March 18, 2026 15:00
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires correctional facilities to administer medications as prescribed to inmates prior to confinement, subject to verification by a licensed health care professional.",
"Allows medication changes or substitutions when determined medically appropriate by a licensed health care professional, with approval of the prescriber or their designee, and requires written inmate notice and documentation.",
"Defines licensed health care professional to include physicians (ch. 147), physician assistants (ch. 147A), or advanced practice registered nurses ( § 148.171, subd. 3)."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "Amends Minn. Stat. 241.021, subd. 4f to require correctional facilities to administer the same medications prescribed to confined or incarcerated persons, provided prescriptions are current and verified by the facility's licensed health care professional; allows substitutions or changes under certain conditions and with professional approval; and defines who is a licensed health care professional.",
"modified": [
"Clarifies the verification and professional oversight requirements for medication administration in correctional facilities and the role of the facility’s health care professional."
]
},
"citation": "241.021",
"subdivision": "4f"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Provides an exception to the medication administration requirement when a Jarvis order exists under § 253B.092, subd. 8."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "References a Jarvis order issued under Minn. Stat. § 253B.092, subd. 8 that may dictate otherwise, creating an exception to the medication provision in correctional facilities when such an order applies.",
"modified": [
""
]
},
"citation": "253B.092",
"subdivision": "8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Explicitly includes advanced practice registered nurses as licensed health care professionals as defined in § 148.171, subd. 3."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "Defines licensed health care professional to include physicians, physician assistants, or advanced practice registered nurses as defined in § 148.171, subd. 3.",
"modified": [
""
]
},
"citation": "148.171",
"subdivision": "3"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Physicians licensed under chapter 147 are included as licensed health care professionals."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "In the definition of licensed health care professional, specifies physicians licensed under chapter 147 as included.",
"modified": [
""
]
},
"citation": "147",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Physician assistants licensed under chapter 147A are included as licensed health care professionals."
],
"removed": [
""
],
"summary": "In the definition of licensed health care professional, specifies physician assistants licensed under chapter 147A as included.",
"modified": [
""
]
},
"citation": "147A",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee