Transgender prisoners

UPDATE 02/14/2023 – passed house; Roll Call 134: yeas 68, nays 24

UPDATE 02/15/2023 – Referred to the Senate

UPDATE 02/27/2023 – referred to Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Summary:
House Bill 1569 bans Department of Corrections from providing gender affirming care to prisoners. Specifically prohibits paying for or providing state resources for gender transition of prisoners, including federal funding. This is likely in direct opposition to federal laws about care for transgender prisoners.

House Bill 1569
Authored by Rep. Peggy Mayfield.
Co-Authored by Rep. Joanna King.
Sponsored by Sen. Stacey Donato.

DIGEST
Restrictions on DOC provision of gender therapy. Provides that the department of correction may not authorize the payment of any money, the use of any state resources, or the payment of any federal money administered by the state to provide or facilitate the provision of hormonal therapy or sexual reassignment surgery to an offender patient.

Actions for House Bill 1569
S 02/27/2023 First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law
H 02/15/2023 Referred to the Senate
H 02/14/2023 Senate sponsor: Senator Donato
H 02/14/2023 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 134: yeas 68, nays 24
H 02/13/2023 Second reading: ordered engrossed
H 02/09/2023 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
H 02/06/2023 Representative King J added as coauthor
H 01/19/2023 First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
H 01/19/2023 Authored by Representative Mayfield

Link to PDF File of Introduced Bill: HB1569.01.INTR_.pdf
Link to PDF File of Roll Call Vote: HB1569.134_H-roll-call-vote

News References:

Source: The Statehouse File – February 9, 2023
Committee weighs rights of trans prisoners

Source: Indy Star – February 9, 2023
Indiana lawmakers move bill banning state-provided gender-affirming surgery in prison

The American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association do recognize transition-related care as medically necessary.

That care can take a variety of forms, including surgery, and is different for every patient. Just like any other medical decision, the decision comes from an thorough vetting process between clinician and patient, said Richard Brandon-Friedman, a clinician and assistant professor in the IU School of Social Work at IUPUI.

Source: Indy Star – February 23, 2023
An ‘absolute onslaught’: Indiana GOP targets transgender rights