Florida bill
would require HIV tests for prisoners

The Florida house's criminal justice committee has unanimously approved a bill (HB463) that would allow Florida counties to require mandatory HIV antibody testing for prisoners. If a county commission votes for the requirement, prisoners would have to undergo HIV antibody testing prior to being released. Many inmates become infected with HIV in prison and are released without knowing they carry the virus, says state representative Curtis Richardson. "Then they spread it to the general population if they don't know their status or if they're not getting treatment and education." The state senate's health care committee has already given unanimous approval to a similar bill. (AP)