State Rep. Barbara Massey Reece, D-Menlo, will be lobbying the House Rules Committee today to approve a vote on a bill dealing with medicine for state inmates.

House Bill 464 would let the Georgia Department of Corrections charge inmates for at least part of the cost for prescription medications. The fee, which would be waived in the case of the chronically ill, pregnant, mentally ill or indigent.

Reece said DOC officials asked for the legislation, which is expected to save $1 million a year from the $25 million spent on inmate prescriptions.

“It will also make the inmates more responsible about going on sick call,” she said. “It’s a simple little bill, and I don’t see any problems getting it passed. I think it’s a fair."

Click here to read House Bill 464:http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/sum/hb464.htm

RNT