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HB 2136

An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in medical services, providing for diagnoses prior to incarceration.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and 15 co-sponsors

HB 2136 would require correctional facilities to recognize and maintain preexisting medical diagnoses at intake and throughout incarceration.

Re-committed to Rules
0
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Bill Summary · HB 2136

Overview

House Bill 2136 (HB 2136), from the 2025-2026 Pennsylvania General Assembly, would amend Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) to address diagnoses and medical recognition at incarceration. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Emily Kinkead with a broad group of co-sponsors and has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, reported as committed, and subsequently re-committed to Rules as of June 17, 2026.

Main purpose and intent

  • To prohibit the removal of or refusal to recognize a medical diagnosis upon incarceration.
  • To ensure that an individual’s preexisting medical diagnoses are acknowledged and maintained when someone enters the prison system.

In short, the bill seeks to protect and preserve documented medical conditions of incarcerated individuals, rather than allowing those diagnoses to be disregarded or overridden at the point of incarceration.

Key provisions and changes (proposed changes under Title 61)

  • Amends the medical services provisions of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole).
  • Specifically provides for diagnoses prior to incarceration to be recognized and not removed or dismissed upon entry into the correctional system.
  • Establishes a procedural framework to prevent misrecognition or denial of known medical conditions at the outset of confinement.

Note: The text provided does not include the full statutory language, but the title and sponsor memo indicate the core change centers on recognizing pre-incarceration medical diagnoses in the medical care provided to incarcerated individuals.

Who/what would be affected

  • Incarcerated individuals transitioning into Pennsylvania state or local correctional facilities.
  • Correctional healthcare providers and administrators responsible for medical assessments and treatment within prisons and jails.
  • The broader medical records and patient-privacy processes within the Department of Corrections, as the policy would require upholding prior diagnoses during intake and ongoing care.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Bill status: Referred to Judiciary (January 13, 2026); reported as committed (June 17, 2026); first consideration on June 17, 2026; re-committed to Rules the same day.
  • Committee activity: Joint Judiciary committee vote on June 17, 2026 resulted in 14 yeas and 12 nays.
  • The bill is part of ongoing legislative consideration and could move to further readings, floor votes, or potential amendments as it progresses.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Positive impacts:

    • Ensures continuity of care for individuals with chronic or preexisting health conditions.
    • Reduces gaps in treatment that can occur at intake or during incarceration.
    • May improve health outcomes and reduce complications related to untreated conditions.

  • Potential challenges or questions:

    • How “diagnoses prior to incarceration” are verified and documented across diverse medical records.
    • Interaction with budget, staffing, and resource constraints within correctional healthcare.
    • Clarification on how emergent diagnoses identified during intake interact with preexisting diagnoses.

Summary

HB 2136 seeks to safeguard the medical integrity of individuals entering the Pennsylvania incarceration system by mandating that preexisting medical diagnoses be recognized and not removed upon confinement. If enacted, the bill would affect intake screening, medical record handling, and ongoing clinical decision-making within prisons and jails, ensuring continuity of care and alignment with patients’ documented health histories. The proposal is currently advancing through the legislative process with committee consideration and potential floor action pending.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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