BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1584

By: Hall

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Autologous blood donation is the banking of red cell units (rarely plasma) usually before an individual’s own surgery.  The stored blood can then be returned to the donor patient when needed. Directed blood donation is defined as the donation of blood or blood components for the purpose of transfusion into a specified individual. Recently, a constituent has found it increasingly difficult to receive directed blood donations for her daughters.

S.B. 1584 would require a blood bank that facilitates autologous or direct blood donations to comply with a physician’s order prescribing an autologous or direct blood donation.  The bill also seeks to require certain licensed hospitals to allow certain individuals to use an autologous or direct blood donation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1584 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a blood bank that facilitates autologous or direct blood donations to comply with a physician's order prescribing for an individual an autologous or direct blood donation. It authorizes a blood bank to charge a fee in an amount reasonable and necessary to cover the administrative cost to the blood bank of facilitating an autologous or direct blood donation ordered by a physician under the bill’s provisions.

Further, it amends the Health and Safety Code to require a hospital licensed under the Texas Hospital Licensing Law to allow an individual on whom a medical procedure is to be performed to provide an autologous or direct blood donation ordered by a physician for the medical procedure if the hospital facilitates blood donations.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.