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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of a webpage and mobile application for |
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the provision of pregnancy-related resources and information. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter X to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER X. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION |
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Sec. 161.701. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION |
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WEBPAGE. (a) The Department of Information Resources, in |
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consultation with the commission, shall develop and maintain on the |
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Texas.gov Internet website a publicly accessible webpage of |
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pregnancy-related resources and information, including any |
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available: |
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(1) resources for: |
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(A) mental health counseling, pregnancy |
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counseling, and other prenatal and postpartum services; |
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(B) mentorship opportunities, including |
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pregnancy assistance and case management; |
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(C) health care and well-being services, |
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including services for obstetrical and gynecological support, |
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abortion pill reversal, breastfeeding assistance, health care, and |
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dental care; |
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(D) financial assistance, employment |
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opportunities, nutrition assistance, child care options, and |
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educational opportunities; |
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(E) legal services, including legal services for |
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child support, custody issues, family leave, and breastfeeding |
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protections; |
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(F) professional support, including tax |
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preparation; |
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(G) financial and housing assistance, including |
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assistance with food, nutrition, clothing, household goods, baby |
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supplies, housing options, shelter options, maternity home |
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options, and crisis pregnancy center options; |
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(H) recovery and mental health services, |
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including services for addiction or suicide intervention, |
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counseling services for victims of intimate partner violence, |
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sexual assault, or sex trafficking, and counseling services for the |
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unexpected loss of a child; |
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(I) prenatal diagnostic services, including |
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disability support organizations, newborn medical interventions, |
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and perinatal hospice services; |
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(J) healing and support services for abortion |
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survivors and the survivors' families; and |
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(K) services related to providing care for |
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children, including services for public and private adoption, |
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foster care, and short-term child care; |
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(2) information about: |
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(A) alternatives to abortion; |
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(B) abortion risks, including complications and |
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failures; |
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(C) child development beginning at conception; |
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(D) pregnancy wellness; |
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(E) family planning; |
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(F) the Healthy Texas Women program defined by |
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Section 32.151; |
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(G) the Alternatives to Abortion program |
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administered by the commission; and |
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(H) any pregnancy-related services provided by a |
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county in this state; and |
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(3) any other resources or information considered |
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helpful to pregnant women. |
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(b) The webpage described by Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) through a series of questions, provide the person |
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accessing the webpage information tailored to the person's answers, |
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including information regarding risks related to abortion at all |
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stages of gestation; |
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(2) allow for webpage users to submit feedback |
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regarding whether the webpage is user-friendly and helpful in |
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providing tailored answers described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(3) include a tool to search for resources described |
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by Subsection (a) by zip code and county. |
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Sec. 161.702. PREGNANCY-RELATED RESOURCES AND INFORMATION |
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MOBILE APPLICATION. The Department of Information Resources, in |
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consultation with the commission, shall develop a mobile |
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application that: |
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(1) provides the resources and information described |
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by Section 161.701(a); and |
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(2) satisfies the requirements described by Section |
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161.701(b). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |