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Bill

SB 5031

Concerning health care coordination regarding confined individuals.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Bob Hasegawa and 6 co-sponsors

SB 5031 mandates healthcare coordination systems for incarcerated individuals across Washington confinement facilities to improve medical continuity and record-sharing between institutions.

Referred to Ways & Means.
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Bill Summary · SB 5031

Legislative bill overview

SB 5031 addresses healthcare coordination for incarcerated and detained individuals in Washington State. The bill establishes requirements for prisons, jails, and other confinement facilities to coordinate medical care and maintain health records for confined populations. It has advanced through the Senate Human Services Committee with a substitute version and now faces budgetary review in Ways & Means.

Why is this important

Incarcerated individuals often face fragmented healthcare due to transfers between facilities, creating gaps in treatment continuity and medication management. Establishing coordination standards could reduce preventable deaths, improve chronic disease management, and potentially lower costs through better care continuity. This affects thousands of Washingtonians in the criminal justice system annually.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal Impact: The Ways & Means referral suggests costs to implement coordination systems across multiple facilities—funding source and implementation timeline remain unclear
  • Scope of "Confined Individuals": Definitions may differ between sponsors' intent and substitute language, affecting which facilities must comply
  • Healthcare Provider Authority: Unclear how the bill balances facility security concerns with medical professionals' clinical autonomy, particularly regarding medication access and treatment decisions

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

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