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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on infant mortality and maternal mortality and |
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morbidity in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "team" means the state |
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child fatality review team coordinated by the Health and Human |
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Services Commission. |
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(b) The team shall conduct a study on infant mortality and |
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maternal mortality and morbidity in this state. In conducting the |
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study, the team shall: |
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(1) investigate disparities among race and ethnicity, |
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socioeconomic status, and geographic regions in this state; |
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(2) compare maternal mortality and morbidity rates |
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among Black women in this state in relation to maternal mortality |
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and morbidity rates among: |
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(A) each other race and ethnicity; and |
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(B) other women based on socioeconomic status and |
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education level; |
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(3) assess the impact of social determinants of |
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health, including an evaluation of information on |
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pregnancy-related deaths, pregnancy-related complications that |
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almost resulted in death, and morbidities, to identify any |
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correlation in that information to women who are uninsured, receive |
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health coverage under Medicaid, and receive health coverage through |
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a private insurer; and |
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(4) assess the extent to which implicit biases held by |
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health care providers against Black individuals affect maternal |
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mortality and morbidity among Black women. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2024, the team shall prepare |
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and submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature a |
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written report that: |
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(1) summarizes the results of the study conducted |
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under this section; and |
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(2) includes the recommendations based on the results |
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of the study for: |
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(A) reducing infant mortality in this state; and |
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(B) addressing disparities in maternal mortality |
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and morbidity among Black women. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires December 31, 2024. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |