Sec. 493.018.  CARE OF TERMINALLY ILL INMATES.  (a)  The department may provide direct hospice services for terminally ill inmates and defendants confined in facilities operated by the department or may contract with a licensed hospice for the provision of those services.  Hospice services established by the department shall meet licensure standards established under Chapter 142, Health and Safety Code, except for those standards which are determined to be in conflict with security considerations in the institutional setting.
(b)  In this section, "hospice" and "hospice services" have the meanings assigned to those terms by Section 142.001, Health and Safety Code.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 769, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Renumbered from Government Code Sec. 493.014 by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 31.01(39), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.