Bill Text: VA HB1488 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prisoners; prohibits use of restraints on those who are pregnant, exception.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-01-28 - House: Tabled in Militia, Police and Public Safety by voice vote [HB1488 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2011-HB1488-Introduced.html

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11100581D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1488 Offered January 12, 2011 Prefiled December 13, 2010 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 53.1 a section numbered 53.1-1.1:1, relating to pregnant prisoners; use of restraints. ---------- Patrons-- Hope and Abbott ---------- Referred to Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 53.1 a section numbered 53.1-1.1:1 as follows:

§ 53.1-1.1:1. Restraint of certain prisoners.

No state, regional, local, or juvenile correctional facility shall use restraints on any prisoner who is pregnant during labor, transport to a medical facility, delivery, or postpartum recovery unless the warden, superintendent, or jailor finds there is a compelling reason to believe that the prisoner poses serious harm to herself or others, is a flight risk, or cannot be reasonably restrained by other means. Such facility shall use the least restrictive restraints necessary on any inmate in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.