AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF BREAST CANCER SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR WOMEN COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date (July 1, 2026) is confirmed by Section 1 but was moved from 'what_it_does' to metadata context as it describes when the law starts rather than what it does.

Breast Cancer Care Options for Women in State Custody

This law allows prison officials to send women inmates to nearby licensed hospitals for breast cancer care if those facilities are closer than The University of Connecticut Health Center.

What This Bill Does

• Allows the Commissioner of Correction to use local health care institutions that are closer to the prison than The University of Connecticut Health Center for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Permits sending patients to a nearby licensed hospital if an on-site mammogram cannot be provided at the correctional facility.

Who It Names or Affects

• Women committed to the custody of the Department of Correction
• The Commissioner of Correction

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Correction

The official in charge of the Department of Correction who manages prisons and inmate care.

Mammogram

A diagnostic screening for breast cancer defined by state law.

Limits and Unknowns

• The option to use a local hospital applies only if the facility is closer than The University of Connecticut Health Center.
• For mammograms, this option is available specifically when on-site services cannot be provided at the prison.
• The text does not specify which hospitals will participate or how costs are handled.

Official Summary Text

To provide additional breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment options to women committed to the custody of the Department of Correction.

Current Bill Text

Senate Bill No. 391

Public Act No. 26-117

AN ACT CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY OF BREAST CANCER
SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR
WOMEN COMMITTED TO THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTION.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) The Commissioner of
Correction, when providing medical care for the screening, diagnosis
and treatment of breast cancer to any woman committed to the custody
of the Department of Correction, may arrange for such screening,
diagnostic and treatment servic es to be provided by a health care
institution, licensed in accordance with the provisions of chapter 368v
of the general statutes, that is in closer proximity to the correctional
facility than The University of Conn ecticut Health Center. In the event
the commissioner is unable to provide a required diagnostic and
screening mammogram, as defined in section 38a -503 of the general
statutes, to a woman committed to the custody of the commissioner on-
site at the correctio nal facility, the commissioner may then arrange for
the provision of such mammogram at a health care institution that is in
closer proximity to the correctional facility than The University of
Connecticut Health Center.