87R1509 SCL-D
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 1424
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a health care provider's right to object to
  participation in a medical procedure that violates the provider's
  ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 103, Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 103. RIGHT TO OBJECT TO PARTICIPATION IN CERTAIN MEDICAL
  PROCEDURES [ABORTION PROCEDURE]
         SECTION 2.  Sections 103.001 and 103.002, Occupations Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 103.001.  RIGHT TO OBJECT. A physician, nurse, staff
  member, or employee of a hospital or other health care facility who
  objects to directly or indirectly performing or participating in an
  abortion procedure or any other medical procedure on the grounds
  that the procedure violates the physician's, nurse's, staff
  member's, or employee's ethical, moral, or religious beliefs may
  not be required to directly or indirectly perform or participate in
  the procedure.
         Sec. 103.002.  DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. (a) A hospital or
  health care facility may not discriminate against a physician,
  nurse, staff member, or employee, or an applicant for one of those
  positions, who refuses to directly or indirectly perform or
  participate in:
               (1)  an abortion procedure; or 
               (2)  any other medical procedure that violates the
  physician's, nurse's, staff member's, employee's, or applicant's
  ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.
         (b)  A hospital or health care facility may not discriminate
  against a physician, nurse, staff member, or employee because of
  the person's willingness or unwillingness to directly or indirectly
  perform or participate in an abortion procedure or any other
  medical procedure at another facility.
         (c)  An educational institution may not discriminate against
  an applicant for admission or employment as a student, intern, or
  resident because of the applicant's:
               (1)  attitude concerning abortion; or 
               (2)  ethical, moral, or religious beliefs regarding any
  other medical procedure.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 103, Occupations Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to an abortion or other medical procedure
  performed on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.