Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Justice for the Unprotected against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed Act” or the “JUSTICE Act”.
Justice for the Unprotected against Sexually Transmitted Infections among the Confined and Exposed Act
A BILL
To reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections in correctional facilities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Table of contents
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 3 Findings
The Congress makes the following findings:
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 2,239,800 persons were incarcerated in State or Federal prisons or local jails in the United States as of the end of 2011. Additionally, one in every 34 United States residents was on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole. During 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confined an additional 642,000 people. DHS held 429,000 of them in immigration detention facilities.
In 2010, 60 percent of incarcerated persons were racial or ethnic minorities. In 2011, African-Americans males ages 18 to 19 were imprisoned at more than 9 times the rate of their White counterparts. African-American men are incarcerated at a rate more than 6 times that of White males, and 2.6 times that of Hispanic males, despite similar rates of criminal activity.
There is a disproportionately high rate of HIV/AIDS among incarcerated persons, especially among minorities. Rates of HIV diagnoses among persons tested in prisons in 2004 were higher in African-Americans and Hispanics than Whites. Approximately 1 in 7 people living with HIV will pass through the prison system each year.
In 2010, the AIDS-related death rate among prisoners was more than 4 times higher among African-Americans compared to Whites.
Studies suggest that other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes, viral hepatitis, and human papillomavirus, also exist at a higher rate among incarcerated persons than in the general population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 percent to 41 percent of incarcerated persons have been infected with hepatitis C (compared to 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the general population), and 12 percent to 35 percent of incarcerated persons are chronically infected with hepatitis C.
Many correctional facilities in the United States do not provide comprehensive testing and treatment programs to reduce the spread of STIs. According to BJS surveys from 2005, only 996 of the 1,821 Federal and State correctional facilities (i.e., 54.7 percent) provided HIV/AIDS counseling programs.
Individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid prior to incarceration, including those who are pending disposition and have not had a trial yet, face a suspension of their benefits upon incarceration, and in some States a termination of their Medicaid eligibility. The Federal Government encourages States to automatically re-enroll incarcerated persons on Medicaid upon their release from a correctional facility, unless the State reaches a determination that the individual is no longer eligible for reasons other than their prior incarceration.
Formerly incarcerated individuals who are newly released from correctional facilities often face delays in the resumption of their Medicaid benefits which may exacerbate any health issues which they face.
Incarcerated individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are eligible for Medicaid would benefit from prompt and automatic enrollment upon their release in order to ensure their continued ability to access health services, including antiretroviral treatment.
Correctional facilities lack a uniform system of STI testing and reporting. Establishing a uniform data collection system would assist in developing and targeting counseling and treatment programs for incarcerated persons and can help reduce the spread of STIs.
Although Congress has acted to reduce the spread of sexual violence in correctional facilities by enacting the National Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003, BJS reported that approximately 4.4 percent of incarcerated persons in prisons and 3.1 percent of persons in jail reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another incarcerated person or correctional facility staff in the previous year.
According to CDC, incarcerated persons do engage in sexual intercourse. The CDC finds that correct and consistent male or female condom use effectively reduces the risk of HIV and STI transmission and recommends HIV education and counseling in prisons.
Despite the effectiveness of condoms in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs, the Bureau of Prisons does not recommend their use in correctional facilities.
The distribution of condoms in correctional facilities is currently legal in certain parts of the United States and the world. The States of Vermont and Mississippi and the District of Columbia allow condom distribution programs in their correctional facilities. The cities of New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia also allow condom distribution in their correctional facilities. However, these States and cities operate less than 1 percent of all correctional facilities.
The American Public Health Association, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), Human Rights Watch, the United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, UNAIDS, and the World Health Organization have endorsed the effectiveness of condom distribution programs in correctional facilities. The Global Commission on HIV and the Law further recognizes that the lack of condoms exacerbates transmission risk.
Sec. 4 Authority to allow community organizations to provide STI counseling, STI prevention education, and sexual barrier protection devices in Federal correctional facilities
Directive to Attorney General— Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall direct the Bureau of Prisons to allow community organizations to distribute sexual barrier protection devices and to engage in STI counseling and STI prevention education in Federal correctional facilities. These activities shall be subject to all relevant Federal laws and regulations which govern visitation in correctional facilities.
Information requirement— Any community organization permitted to distribute sexual barrier protection devices under subsection (a) must ensure that the persons to whom the devices are distributed are informed about the proper use and disposal of sexual barrier protection devices in accordance with established public health practices. Any community organization conducting STI counseling or STI prevention education under subsection (a) must offer comprehensive sex education.
Possession of device protected— No Federal correctional facility may, because of the possession or use of a sexual barrier protection device—
take adverse action against an incarcerated person; or
consider possession or use as evidence of prohibited activity for the purpose of any Federal correctional facility administrative proceeding.
Implementation— The Attorney General and Bureau of Prisons shall implement this section according to established public health practices in a manner that protects the health, safety, and privacy of incarcerated persons and of correctional facility staff.
Sec. 5 Sense of Congress regarding distribution of sexual barrier protection devices in State prison systems
It is the sense of Congress that States should allow for the legal distribution of sexual barrier protection devices in State correctional facilities to reduce the prevalence and spread of STIs in those facilities.
Sec. 6 Automatic enrollment or reinstatement of Medicaid benefits
In general— Section 1902(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(e)) is amended—
by redesignating the paragraph (14) added by section 3(c) of Public Law 111–255 as paragraph (15); and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(16) Enrollment of ex-offenders
“(A) Automatic enrollment or reinstatement
“(i) In general—The State plan shall provide for the automatic enrollment or reinstatement of enrollment of an eligible individual—
“(I) if such individual is scheduled to be released from a public institution due to the completion of sentence, not less than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the release; and
“(II) if such individual is to be released from a public institution on parole or on probation, as soon as possible after the date on which the determination to release such individual was made, and before the date such individual is released.
“(ii) Exception—If a State makes a determination that an individual is not eligible to be enrolled under the State plan—
“(I) on or before the date by which the individual would be enrolled under clause (i), such clause shall not apply to such individual; or
“(II) after such date, the State may terminate the enrollment of such individual.
“(B) Relationship of enrollment to payment for services
“(i) In general—Subject to subparagraph (A)(ii), an eligible individual who is enrolled, or whose enrollment is reinstated, under subparagraph (A) shall be eligible for medical assistance that is provided after the date that the eligible individual is released from the public institution.
“(ii) Relationship to payment prohibition for inmates—No provision of this paragraph may be construed to permit payment for care or services for which payment is excluded under subparagraph (A) following paragraph (29) of section 1905(a).
“(C) Treatment of continuous eligibility
“(i) Suspension for inmates—Any period of continuous eligibility under this title shall be suspended on the date an individual enrolled under this title becomes an inmate of a public institution (except as a patient of a medical institution).
“(ii) Determination of remaining period—Notwithstanding any changes to State law related to continuous eligibility during the time that an individual is an inmate of a public institution (except as a patient of a medical institution), subject to clause (iii), with respect to an eligible individual who was subject to a suspension under subclause (I), on the date that such individual is released from a public institution the suspension of continuous eligibility under such subclause shall be lifted for a period that is equal to the time remaining in the period of continuous eligibility for such individual on the date that such period was suspended under such subclause.
“(iii) Exception—If a State makes a determination that an individual is not eligible to be enrolled under the State plan—
“(I) on or before the date that the suspension of continuous eligibility is lifted under clause (ii), such clause shall not apply to such individual; or
“(II) after such date, the State may terminate the enrollment of such individual.
“(D) Automatic enrollment or reinstatement of enrollment defined—For purposes of this paragraph, the term automatic enrollment or reinstatement of enrollment means that the State determines eligibility for medical assistance under the State plan without a program application from, or on behalf of, the eligible individual, but an individual may only be automatically enrolled in the State Medicaid plan if the individual affirmatively consents to being enrolled through affirmation in writing, by telephone, orally, through electronic signature, or through any other means specified by the Secretary.
“(E) Eligible individual defined—For purposes of this paragraph, the term eligible individual means an individual who is an inmate of a public institution (except as a patient in a medical institution)—
“(i) who was enrolled under the State plan for medical assistance immediately before becoming an inmate of such an institution; or
“(ii) is diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus.”
Supplemental Funding for State Implementation of Automatic Reinstatement of Medicaid Benefits—
In general— Subject to paragraph (6), for each State for which the Secretary of Health and Human Services has approved an application under paragraph (3), the Federal matching payments (including payments based on the Federal medical assistance percentage) made to such State under section 1903 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b) shall be increased by 5 percentage points for payments to the State for the activities permitted under paragraph (2) for a period of one year.
Use of funds— A State may only use increased matching payments authorized under paragraph (1)—
to strengthen the State’s enrollment and administrative resources for the purpose of improving processes for enrolling (or reinstating the enrollment of) eligible individuals (as such term is defined in section 1902(e)(15)(E) of the Social Security Act, as added by subsection (a)); and
for medical assistance (as such term is defined in section 1905(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396d(a))) provided to such eligible individuals.
Application and agreement— The Secretary may only make payments to a State in the increased amount if—
the State has amended the State plan under section 1902 of the Social Security Act to incorporate the requirements of subsection (e)(15) of such section, as so added;
the State has submitted an application to the Secretary that includes a plan for implementing such requirements under the State’s amended State plan before the end of the 90-day period beginning on the date that the State receives increased matching payments under paragraph (1);
the State’s application meets the satisfaction of the Secretary; and
the State enters an agreement with the Secretary that states that—
the State will only use the increased matching funds for the uses permitted under paragraph (2); and
at the end of the period under paragraph (1), the State will submit to the Secretary, and make publicly available, a report that contains the information required under paragraph (4).
Required report information— The information that is required in the report under paragraph (3)(D)(ii) includes—
the results of an evaluation of the impact of the implementation of the requirements of section 1902(e)(15) of the Social Security Act on improving the State’s processes for enrolling of individuals who are released for public institutions into the Medicaid program;
the number of individuals who were automatically enrolled (or whose enrollment is reinstated) under such section during the period under paragraph (1); and
any other information that is required by the Secretary.
Increase in cap on Medicaid payments to territories— Subject to paragraph (6), the amounts otherwise determined for Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa under subsections (f) and (g) of section 1108 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) shall each be increased by the necessary amount to allow for the increase in the Federal matching payments under paragraph (1), but only for the period under such paragraph for such State. In the case of such an increase for a territory, subsection (a)(1) of such section 1108 shall be applied without regard to any increase in payment made to the territory under part E of title IV of such Act that is attributable to the increase in Federal medical assistance percentage effected under paragraph (1) for the territory.
Limitations—
Timing— With respect to a State, at the end of the period under paragraph (1), no increased matching payments may be made to such State under this subsection.
Maintenance of eligibility—
In general— Subject to clause (ii), a State is not eligible for an increase in its Federal matching payments under paragraph (1), or an increase in an amount under paragraph (5), if eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) are more restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures, respectively, under such plan (or waiver) as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.
State reinstatement of eligibility permitted— A State that has restricted eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures under its State plan under title XIX of the Social Security Act (including any waiver under such title or under section 1115 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1315)) after the date of the enactment of this Act, is no longer ineligible under clause (i) beginning with the first calendar quarter in which the State has reinstated eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures that are no more restrictive than the eligibility standards, methodologies, or procedures, respectively, under such plan (or waiver) as in effect on such date.
No waiver authority— The Secretary may not waive the application of this subsection under section 1115 of the Social Security Act or otherwise.
Limitation of matching payments to 100 percent— In no case shall an increase in Federal matching payments under this subsection result in Federal matching payments that exceed 100 percent.
State defined— In this subsection, the term State has the meaning given such term for purposes of title XIX of the Social Security Act.
Effective date—
In general— Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to services furnished on or after such date.
Rule for changes requiring State legislation— In the case of a State plan for medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act which the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines requires State legislation (other than legislation appropriating funds) in order for the plan to meet the additional requirements imposed by the amendments made by this subsection, the State plan shall not be regarded as failing to comply with the requirements of such title solely on the basis of its failure to meet these additional requirements before the first day of the first calendar quarter beginning after the close of the first regular session of the State legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act. For purposes of the previous sentence, in the case of a State that has a 2-year legislative session, each year of such session shall be deemed to be a separate regular session of the State legislature.
Sec. 7 Survey of and report on correctional and immigration detention facility programs aimed at reducing the spread of STIs
Survey— The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consulting with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, State officials, and community organizations, shall, to the maximum extent practicable, conduct a survey of all Federal and State correctional facilities and immigration detention facilities, no later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for 5 years, to determine the following:
Prevention education offered— The type of prevention education, information, or training offered to incarcerated persons and detainees and staff of correctional and immigration detention facilities regarding sexual violence and the spread of STIs, including whether such education, information, or training—
constitutes comprehensive sex education;
is compulsory for new incarcerated persons and detainees and for new staff; and
is offered on an ongoing basis.
Access to sexual barrier protection devices— Whether incarcerated persons and detainees can—
possess sexual barrier protection devices;
purchase sexual barrier protection devices;
purchase sexual barrier protection devices at a reduced cost; and
obtain sexual barrier protection devices without cost.
Incidence of sexual violence— The incidence of sexual violence and assault committed by incarcerated persons and detainees, and by staff of correctional and immigration detention facilities.
Counseling, treatment, and supportive services— Whether the correctional or immigration detention facility requires incarcerated persons and detainees to participate in counseling, treatment, and supportive services related to STIs, or whether it offers such programs to incarcerated persons and detainees.
STI testing— Whether the correctional or immigration detention facility tests incarcerated persons and detainees for STIs or gives them the option to undergo such testing—
at intake;
on a regular basis; and
prior to release.
STI test results— The number of incarcerated persons and detainees who are tested for STIs and the outcome of such tests at each correctional or immigration detention facility, disaggregated to include results for—
the type of sexually transmitted infection tested for;
the race and ethnicity of individuals tested;
the age of individuals tested; and
the gender of individuals tested.
Pre-release referral policy— Whether incarcerated persons and detainees are informed prior to release about STI-related services or other health services in their communities, including free and low-cost counseling and treatment options.
Pre-release referrals made— The number of referrals to community-based organizations or public health facilities offering STI-related or other health services provided to incarcerated persons and detainees prior to release, and the type of counseling or treatment for which the referral was made.
Reinstatement of medicaid benefits— Whether the correctional facility assists incarcerated persons that were enrolled in the State Medicaid program prior to their incarceration, in reinstating their enrollment upon release and whether such individuals receive referrals as provided by paragraph (8) to entities that accept the State Medicaid program, including if applicable—
the number of such individuals, including those diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus, that have been reinstated;
a list of obstacles to reinstating enrollment or to making determinations of eligibility for reinstatement, if any; and
the number of individuals denied enrollment.
Other actions taken— Whether the correctional or immigration detention facility has taken any other action, in conjunction with community organizations or otherwise, to reduce the prevalence and spread of STIs in that facility.
Privacy— In conducting the survey under subsection (a), the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not request or retain the identity of any person who has sought or been offered counseling, treatment, testing, or prevention education information regarding an STI (including information about sexual barrier protection devices), or who has tested positive for an STI.
Report— The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall transmit to Congress and make publicly available the results of the survey required under subsection (a), both for the Nation as a whole and disaggregated as to each State and each correctional facility or immigration detention facility. To the maximum extent possible, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue the first report no later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and shall issue reports annually thereafter for 5 years.
Sec. 8 Strategy
Directive to Attorney General— The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, State officials, and community organizations, shall develop and implement a 5-year strategy to reduce the prevalence and spread of STIs in Federal and State correctional facilities. To the maximum extent possible, the strategy shall be developed, transmitted to Congress, and made publicly available no later than 180 days after the transmission of the first report required under section 7(c) of this Act.
Contents of strategy— The strategy shall include the following:
Prevention education— A plan for improving prevention education, information, and training offered to incarcerated persons and correctional facility staff, including information and training on sexual violence and the spread of STIs, and comprehensive sex education.
Sexual barrier protection device access— A plan for expanding access to sexual barrier protection devices in correctional facilities.
Sexual violence reduction— A plan for reducing the incidence of sexual violence among incarcerated persons and correctional facility staff, developed in consultation with the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission.
Counseling and supportive services— A plan for expanding access to counseling and supportive services related to STIs in correctional facilities.
Testing— A plan for testing incarcerated persons for STIs during intake, during regular health exams, and prior to release, and that—
is conducted in accordance with guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
includes pretest counseling;
requires that incarcerated persons are notified of their option to decline testing at any time;
requires that incarcerated persons are confidentially notified of their test results in a timely manner; and
ensures that incarcerated persons testing positive for STIs receive posttest counseling, care, treatment, and supportive services.
Treatment— A plan for ensuring that correctional facilities have the necessary medicine and equipment to treat and monitor STIs and for ensuring that incarcerated persons living with or testing positive for STIs receive and have access to care and treatment services.
Strategies for demographic groups— A plan for developing and implementing culturally appropriate, sensitive, and specific strategies to reduce the spread of STIs among demographic groups heavily impacted by STIs.
Discharge and return to society— A plan to improve pre-release discharge planning for inmates, especially those with HIV/AIDS, to access essential services.
Linkages with communities and facilities— A plan for establishing and strengthening linkages to local communities and health facilities that—
provide counseling, testing, care, and treatment services;
may receive persons recently released from incarceration who are living with STIs; and
accept payment through the State Medicaid program.
Enrollment in State Medicaid programs— Plans to ensure that incarcerated persons who were—
enrolled in their State Medicaid program prior to incarceration in a correctional facility are automatically re-enrolled in such program upon their release; and
not enrolled in their State Medicaid program prior to incarceration, but who are diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus while incarcerated in a correctional facility, are automatically enrolled in such program upon their release.
Other plans— Any other plans developed by the Attorney General for reducing the spread of STIs or improving the quality of health care in correctional facilities.
Monitoring system— A monitoring system that establishes performance goals related to reducing the prevalence and spread of STIs in correctional facilities and which, where feasible, expresses such goals in quantifiable form.
Monitoring system performance indicators— Performance indicators that measure or assess the achievement of the performance goals described in paragraph (12).
Cost estimate— A detailed estimate of the funding necessary to implement the strategy at the Federal and State levels for all 5 years, including the amount of funds required by community organizations to implement the parts of the strategy in which they take part.
Report— The Attorney General shall transmit to Congress and make publicly available an annual progress report regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the strategy described in subsection (a). The progress report shall include an evaluation of the implementation of the strategy using the monitoring system and performance indicators provided for in paragraphs (12) and (13) of subsection (b).
Sec. 9 Eligibility of persons discharged from correctional facilities for McKinney-Vento Act housing assistance
Section 401 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11360) is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (9) through (33) as paragraphs (10) through (34), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (8) the following new paragraph:
“(9) Homeless—Notwithstanding section 103(d), the terms homeless, homeless individual, and homeless person include an individual who—
“(A) is being released from any prison, penitentiary, adult detention facility, juvenile detention facility, jail, or other facility to which persons may be sent after conviction of a crime or act of juvenile delinquency within any State; and
“(B) has been diagnosed with any sexually transmitted infection (as such term is defined in section 10 of the JUSTICE Act).”
Sec. 10 Definitions
For the purposes of this Act:
Community Organization— The term community organization means a public health care facility or a nonprofit organization which provides health- or STI-related services according to established public health standards.
Comprehensive sex education— The term comprehensive sex education means a program that—
includes age- and developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically relevant information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality including human development, relationships, decisionmaking, communication, abstinence, contraception, and disease and pregnancy prevention;
provides students with opportunities for developing skills as well as learning information;
is inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual young people; and
aims to—
provide scientifically accurate and realistic information about human sexuality;
provide opportunities for individuals to understand their own, their families’, and their communities’ values, attitudes, and insights about sexuality;
help individuals develop healthy relationships and interpersonal skills; and
help individuals exercise responsibility regarding sexual relationships, which includes addressing abstinence, pressures to become prematurely involved in sexual intercourse, and the use of contraception and other sexual health measures.
Correctional Facility— The term correctional facility means any prison, penitentiary, adult detention facility, juvenile detention facility, jail, or other facility to which persons may be sent after conviction of a crime or act of juvenile delinquency within the United States.
Detainee— The term detainee means any person held by the Department of Homeland Security whether in criminal or civil confinement.
Immigration detention facility— The term immigration detention facility means a confinement facility operated by or pursuant to contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that routinely holds persons pending resolution or completion of immigration removal operations or processes, including facilities that are operated by ICE, facilities that provide detention services under a contract awarded by ICE, or facilities used by ICE pursuant to an Intergovernmental Service Agreement.
Incarcerated Person— The term incarcerated person means any person who is serving a sentence in a correctional facility after conviction of a crime.
Sexually Transmitted Infection— The term sexually transmitted infection or STI means any disease or infection that is commonly transmitted through sexual activity, including HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, genital herpes, viral hepatitis, and human papillomavirus.
Sexual Barrier Protection Device— The term sexual barrier protection device—
means any Food and Drug Administration-approved physical device which has not been tampered with and which reduces the probability of STI transmission or infection between sexual partners, including female condoms, male condoms, and dental dams; and
includes water-based lubricants that have been shown to reduce the probability of condom breakage.
State— The term State includes the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.